Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and denied service connection for strain of the right great toe with arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, clinical peripheral radiculopathy of the upper extremities, osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also remanded several issues related to his right wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, right knee pain, and left knee pain due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is denied as there is no evidence showing the condition began during his active duty or training periods.,Service connection for a left foot disability is also denied, with no onset identified during qualifying service and no evidence linking it to in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, and sleep apnea have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder, COPD with asthma, and OSA. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is remanded due to conflicting diagnoses.

The Board has denied a prior effective date for the 100% rating of PTSD and has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a hearing loss and tinnitus examination, and scheduling a lumbar spine examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected nasal fracture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's claims for psoriasis, arthritis, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were all denied as there is no current disability found in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiners' opinions. The Veteran's service treatment records are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in either case.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and headaches due to a lack of current diagnoses. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the current VA opinion is inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, as well as whether it is secondary to PTSD or congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The ratings for his PTSD and peripheral neuropathy have been established, with some adjustments based on when they began.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for OSA and granted it, finding that there is at least reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's condition either had its onset during his service or was proximately due to increased weight resulting from his service-connected bursitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms began during active service and resolving any doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and associated bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and/or radiculopathy are related to his military service, including his in-service duties as an aviation machinist mate. The VA examiner found that there is a 50% or greater probability that these conditions began during service.