Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea is granted. The claim for left knee disability is remanded for an addendum opinion. The claims for low back disability and sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The issue of a higher rating for the left tibia and fibula fracture is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracic and lumbosacral strain with scoliosis is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The effective date prior to March 11, 2015, for the grant of service connection for the Veteran's thoracic and lumbosacral strain with scoliosis remains denied as there was no formal or informal claim received before that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD, Lumbosacral Spine Disability, and Chronic Headache Disorder are all being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Specifically, the Board requested that VA obtain examinations to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various conditions and the effective date of TDIU. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty remains rated at 60 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his active service, but needs further examination and medical opinion to determine this.

The Board has denied reopening of service connection for prostate cancer due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis and TDIU is remanded as the current examination lacks outcome-determinative information.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, vertigo, sleep apnea, diabetes, PTSD, depression, and headaches are being remanded for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence linking current hypertension to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar strain and PTSD, as well as the issue of TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for additional VA opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for an eye disability and allergies to include rhinorrhea. The Veteran's sleep apnea is presumed due to his service-connected PTSD. His eye condition and allergies are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The claims of service connection for various conditions, including bone islands, red blood cell condition, high liver levels, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), high muscle enzymes, joint pain, teeth loss, back and spinal degeneration, sinusitis, asthma, fungus of the feet, deformity of the toes, left foot, deformity of the toes, right foot, and sleep apnea are remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding no new and material evidence that would support reopening the claim.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that his conditions existed prior to service and were not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest during active service and is not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his military service. The Board also found that the current diagnosis of OSA was less likely than not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD diagnosis and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, heart disease, GERD, and OSA as there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's asthma, anxiety disorder, and sinus headaches have been granted service connection. The rating for sinus headaches has been increased to 30 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

A separate, 30 percent rating for the side effects of medications used to treat lumbosacral strain with DDD and degenerative arthritis is granted. The initial rating for chondromalacia of the right knee remains remanded.