Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome of the left and right lower extremities, and deviated septum. The issues of service connection for hearing loss and a bilateral foot disability are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate cancer and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, sinus disability, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need to consider additional VA treatment records, a completed VA Form 21-8940, and SSA disability benefits decision.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are required for the Veteran's claims of low back disability, left knee disability, and sleep apnea. The issues will be remanded to allow for these examinations.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and OSA, but has remanded the cases of Bell's palsy, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar strain, and PTSD with major depressive episode (PTSD).

The Veteran's COPD with OSA was granted a 60 percent rating from the date of service connection, December 11, 2012. The evidence did not show more severe respiratory symptomatology prior to November 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, memory disorder, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, fatigue, and hair loss are granted with effective dates of November 5, 2002.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral disability is remanded due to the need for additional development. The issue of service connection for lower extremity neurological disability related to his service-connected back disability has also been referred to the RO and needs to be resolved before final adjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a right lower extremity disability (claimed as restless leg syndrome), and hypertension due to additional development. The issues are being remanded because the VA examinations were inadequate and new evidence may be related to his already service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), a heart condition, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and a lumbosacral spine disability.,There is no evidence of a current mental disability, current knee or ankle disability, or compensable spinal disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The specific issues include recurrent skin disorder, psychiatric disorders (including depressive disorder), sleep disorders (including OSA), peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer residuals, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the condition began during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. Service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus is set at May 28, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's STRs did not document any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and active service.

The Board has denied service connection for spinal disability, right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and benign prostatic hyperplasia were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the claim was not filed within one year of separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and radiculopathy of left upper extremity. The decision also mentions that SSA records and VA treatment records from before 1999 should be obtained.