Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his PTSD medications.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed shortly after service and is considered to have started during active duty, thus service connection for this condition is granted.

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

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted a 20 percent rating prior to September 28, 2016. The issue of entitlement to service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy is not currently developed or certified.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a proper medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection grant of sleep apnea with hypoxemia, finding that the earliest communication indicating intent to apply for benefits was on August 31, 2012.

The Veteran's cervical, lumbosacral, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities have worsened since her last VA examinations in February 2012. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The claim will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of various respiratory/pulmonary conditions, including COPD, emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, asthma/bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a pulmonologist regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted a 100% disability rating effective April 25, 2005. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for GERD as secondary to service-connected disabilities and entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain prior to July 5, 2017.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition and motion sickness. The claim for PTSD was granted, and secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) require additional development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected bilateral pleural plaques. The claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for awards of service connection were not granted earlier than specified.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the appellant's service connection claims, including left shoulder disability and sleep apnea. The right shoulder strain claim is also being remanded for additional evidence and a new examination. The PTSD rating and TDIU claims are inextricably intertwined with these other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and lack of consideration of relevant medical history.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.