Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the record regarding the Veteran's neurological manifestations, specifically right leg sciatica. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine current severity of his lower back disability and whether he has right leg sciatica.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral upper extremity disability (paralysis), and COPD. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran needs VA examinations to determine if his current bunions, ganglion cyst, right shoulder condition, low back condition, pes planus, and sleep apnea are related to his military service.

The Veteran's use of a back brace for his service-connected thoracolumbosacral degenerative arthritis is considered, and he is granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2015.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral shoulder disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD, or if it was caused by these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea and his in-service snoring issues, as well as any chemical exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), pleural effusions, asthma, sleep apnea, pseudobulbar affect, stroke residuals, thyroid tumor, atrial fibrillation, and headaches. The decision also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to new and material evidence submitted after the initial denial. The case will be further examined with a VA examination.

Service connection for skin rashes, chronic headaches, CFS, lower gastrointestinal disorder (internal bleeding), sleep apnea, and insomnia is granted.,An initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, sleep apnea and hypersomnia, erectile dysfunction, and a skin disability (basal cell carcinoma) have been remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for OSA and GERD due to Gulf War illness as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active duty or any other basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The Veteran claims his current condition began during deployment in Iraq.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for left hip disability is denied.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for GERD is denied.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board found that there was evidence showing the Veteran has sleep apnea and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral foot condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and PTSD due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for open angle glaucoma was denied due to lack of evidence. The Board found no new and material evidence since the previous denial, thus denying the reopening of this issue. The claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma, erectile dysfunction, tremors, muscle tension headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and depression have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is denied as a matter of law.,His claim for an increased evaluation for left inguinal hernia remains remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and whether it was caused by or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea.