Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

Service connection granted for left ear hearing loss and OSA, but denied for right ear hearing loss. Service connection is also granted for hypertension and PTSD.,Left hand tunnel syndrome service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his left thumb, left knee, and lumbosacral strain disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and functional dyspepsia have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is causally related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for hypertension is granted. An evaluation higher than 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,An evaluation higher than 10 percent for residuals of appendectomy (abdominal scar disability) is denied. An effective date earlier than March 13, 2013, for the award of service connection for OSA is denied. An effective date earlier than September 30, 2014, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for an abdominal muscle tear and a lumbosacral strain, finding no new and material evidence. The claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral knees, shoulders, gout, dizziness (vertigo), sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, hepatitis B, and residuals of a shrapnel wound. The AOJ is instructed to make appropriate requests to the SSA for records concerning the Veteran and to obtain clinical records from his in-service hospitalization.

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, neurogenic bladder, and sexual dysfunction due to service-connected somatic symptom disorder. The issues are being addressed as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spondylosis. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination regarding brain demyelination, hearing loss, numbness and pain claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right arms, increased ratings for cervical spondylosis and lumbosacral strain.

Your appeal has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw it.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of low back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and right ankle disability are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The claim of service connection for melanoma is denied. The claim of service connection for an eye/vision disability, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, migraines, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, thyroid disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression), and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, hematuria, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and hypertension. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of exposure to hazardous materials or toxins during service, and there was no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, GERD, TBI, and sleep apnea due to his failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The AOJ must reschedule these examinations on remand.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity and frequency of flare-ups, which could affect the range of motion.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board also remanded the issues of right shoulder, hip, and lower extremity disabilities for further development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is causally or etiologically related to his period of active service, including in-service documentation of sleep impairment and insomnia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and cognitive impairment are secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis, granting service connection for both conditions.