Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination findings, inconsistencies in medical records regarding her left knee injury during service, and lack of military personnel records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for obstructive sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is found to have caused his stomach ulcers. Service connection for the stomach ulcer is granted, but a higher initial rating and a higher rating in excess of 40 percent from April 15, 2016 are denied.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is granted a 10 percent rating. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left thigh and leg disabilities, sleep apnea, left knee disability, PTSD, and depressive and mood disorders. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury. The issues of service connection for neck disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a thorough examination and etiology opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and a higher rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea related to his military service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bladder disability, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and depression), sleep apnea, varicose veins, liver damage, erectile dysfunction, bicep disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, low back disability, scar and numbness of the back, right wrist disability, missing tooth disability, eye disability (chronic conjunctivitis), bronchitis, and asthma. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tendonitis of the bilateral feet, a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea, and hiatal hernia due to inadequate examinations in the original decision. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) but remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied due to lack of evidence supporting such a condition during or after his military service.,Service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease was granted, but an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to May 21, 2013 is not warranted based on the evidence provided.,Service connection for left knee medial meniscus tear with MCL bursitis was granted, but a higher initial disability rating than 10 percent is not supported by the evidence.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, arising from lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease, was granted. However, an earlier effective date of October 8, 2014, is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for right knee degenerative joint disease and stress fracture, sleep apnea, and a right shoulder disability (secondary to left shoulder disability) have been reopened. The service connection for these conditions has not been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence about whether the Veteran's back was injured prior to service and a need for another VA examination to determine the etiology of his lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking his condition to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has not received a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active duty service. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical neck disability, bilateral cataract disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizoaffective disorder, depressed type. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is denied. The Veteran's claims for throat, shoulder disability, GERD, and right shoulder scars are all denied. The Veteran’s claims for sinusitis and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to February 27, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and narcolepsy due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of current diagnoses in the record.