Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was first manifested during service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service. The examiner needs to consider the Veteran's testimony and treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. The case of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations for further development. The Veteran is required to provide information about his treatment providers, obtain relevant VA and private records, and undergo examinations.

The Board has found deficiencies in the development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, sarcoidosis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of proper testing in previous examinations, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability and sleep apnea, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected left shoulder strain.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. Service connection was also granted for right hip and left hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during service and has persisted since then, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is remanded due to the possibility that his condition may have worsened since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted effective May 26, 2010. The Veteran's claim for service connection for shortness of breath is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, including as secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and PTSD as they are related to service. Additional evidence is needed, including updated VA and private treatment records, and a new examination by an appropriate clinician.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and depression, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or caused by active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied because there is no evidence that OSA was incurred or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to the Persian Gulf environment. The VA examiner found that OSA is not related to his in-service period of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and hemoptysis, sleep apnea, and PTSD due to lack of medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service or claimed exposures. The Veteran is also asked to provide more details about any personal assault stressors.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and higher-level SMC were dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for right elbow disability, left elbow disability, cervical strain, lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), increased ratings for cervical strain, lumbar strain, and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as service connection for right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability were all dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a total (100 percent) disability rating for PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 10, 2011.,The Veteran’s appeals for increased ratings for cervical strain, lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were remanded. The appeal seeking service connection for a right shoulder disability was also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiomyopathy, left knee condition, and sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for a back condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and GERD as the evidence did not establish current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including reopening service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, determining a rating for low back disability, and examining the etiology of sleep apnea.