Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right shoulder sprain is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected left shoulder degenerative changes.,The Veteran's left hand numbness and right hand numbness are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their relationship to his service-connected conditions or other factors.,The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative changes are being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, including range of motion limitations due to pain.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with thoracic spine degenerative changes is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, including range of motion limitations due to pain.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is being remanded for a VA dermatologist opinion on whether his topical treatment constitutes systemic therapy.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking her current diagnosis to service or her service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and insomnia. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied. The earliest effective date is July 30, 2009.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on whether his current condition is related to military service.

Service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, sinus disorder, cholesterol, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for anxiety disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and adenotonsillectomy due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected disabilities or incurred in service. The VA will obtain a new medical opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's eye condition (glaucoma and central vein occlusion) is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied, with the preponderance of evidence against a finding that it is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that the condition did not have its onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by service-connected chronic sinusitis and major depressive disorder.,Service connection was granted for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with an effective date of December 11, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran's claim to reopen this disability was received on December 11, 2010.,Service connection was also granted for a Right Ankle Disability with an effective date of July 30, 2012. The Board noted that no formal or informal claim had been filed prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but remanded the issues of rating and TDIU due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease is rated at a 20% rating prior to August 28, 2017 and at a 40% rating beginning on that date. His cervical spine degenerative joint disease is rated at a 30% rating since the start of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of receipt or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, sleep apnea, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (claimed as anxiety/panic disorder) due to a lack of a requested hearing. The documents written in Spanish need to be translated into English.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's sleep apnea claim due to inadequate examination and lack of etiological opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his current disability and service, including potential exposure to airborne contaminants during Southwest Asia service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, and thus grants service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder NOS and PTSD have been granted with increased ratings, including a 50% rating from June 29, 2012 to January 17, 2017, and a 70% rating since then. He has also been granted TDIU effective June 29, 2012.