Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and obesity/weight gain. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions and that they were not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has not made a decision on the service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability. The decision on sleep apnea is that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further assistance is needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain are related, as well as to assess the severity of his lumbosacral strain.

The claim to reopen the service connection for sleep apnea is denied. The appeal for service connection of low back strain is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PPD converter, sleep disorder (now claimed as sleep apnea), PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of disease or injury in service.,The Veteran's low back disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating higher than 60 percent, and his PTSD warrants a 70% initial disability rating but no higher.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to newly obtained VA treatment records and a VA examination report. The claims include service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder), varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service, or if it is aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder secondary to service-connected epididymitis, but remanded the issues of sleep apnea and rating of epididymitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper respiratory condition (including sinusitis), pulmonary condition (including emphysema, COPD, and chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified), sleep apnea, heart condition, and gastrointestinal condition have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea is inadequate. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for hernias and hearing loss, as well as claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right arm with numbness, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and tinea versicolor. The issues are being remanded due to a lack of an SOC, need for additional development, and inextricably intertwined TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is secondary to PTSD. The Veteran needs further examination and evidence collection.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol and remanded the issue of service connection for neurosarcoidosis, to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support staged initial ratings in excess of 10 percent from June 12, 2008 through February 16, 2009 and 40 percent from February 17, 2009 through December 31, 2010. The Veteran's appeal for a staged initial rating in excess of 10 percent from January 1, 2011 through February 1, 2017 was also denied.