Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include hypertension, sleep apnea, left leg sciatica, and a right leg disability.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a disability of the lumbosacral spine due to insufficient medical opinions and consideration of lay evidence.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for OSA because the only medical opinion provided does not address whether the Veteran's sinusitis at least as likely as not aggravated his OSA beyond its natural progression.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and associated neurological disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions and potential incurrent causes from post-military motor vehicle accidents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea disorder as secondary to his service-connected rhinitis with sinusitis, finding that the weight gain after separation from service rather than the service-connected condition caused or aggravated the current sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea and asthma has been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 6847 (sleep apnea) or 6602 (asthma).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for neurosarcoidosis. The claims for service connection for hypothermia, detrusor sphincter dyssynergy, and panhypopituitarism are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, OSA, and headache disability. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and heart disorder were not caused by or related to active duty service. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's sinusitis has not been manifested by incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II, requires only a restricted diet and oral hypoglycemic agent but does not require insulin or regulation of activities. Thus, the current 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.,The Veteran's sleep apnea has not been confirmed by VA records, and further clarification is needed regarding its nature and etiology as well as whether it is related to service-connected conditions.,TBI was added to the already service-connected PTSD without separate ratings. The issue of an initial compensable rating for TBI remains unresolved.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and prostate cancer due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support the assertion that his active duty service caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent before July 20, 2016 and 20 percent from July 20, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred in or caused by his active duty service and was not aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 10% from March 1, 2010 to February 10, 2012. From February 10, 2012, the rating was increased to 20%. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for colon cancer is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or due to any in-service exposure.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as it did not begin during service and there is no evidence linking it to service, including Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's skin disease is presumed to be caused by his service in Vietnam, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or was otherwise caused by such service.,Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service, including Agent Orange exposure. The condition did not manifest within one year of presumed exposure.,The Veteran's back disability is not linked to his service and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or was otherwise caused by such service.,Service connection for a mental disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's right acromial clavicle separation, combined with his service-connected back disability and mental disorder, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation after his 1984 injury. The case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Services for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU on an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional examination. The issues include right elbow, left knee, and right knee conditions; PTSD; sleep apnea; hypertension; gastrointestinal condition; acid reflux; erectile dysfunction; neuropathy; diabetes mellitus; and heart condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral senile cataract (claimed as vision and eye disorder, residual from 2003 infection) are all denied.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied. The Veteran's GERD is not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not shown to be related to service or an undiagnosed illness.