Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased saliva production and dry mouth, allergy symptoms, sleep apnea, hives (dry skin), restless leg syndrome, spasms and body jerks, sensitivity to smells and odors, photophobia, headaches, fatigue, vertigo and balance issues due to Gulf War Syndrome. The remand requires a new VA examination for PTSD and clarification of the Veteran's claimed stressor events.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and requesting that the Veteran submit a completed TDIU application. The issues of lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for readjudication.

The Board has determined that there are issues to be resolved and thus, the case is being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The claims will be reviewed again with the additional information.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability due to inadequate examination and incomplete private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory obstruction, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. The decision is mixed as some claims are granted while others are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, but remanded the issue of service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was reopened and granted. The claims for sleep apnea secondary to bilateral shoulder disabilities and hypertension secondary to sleep apnea were also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the cases of hypertension and erectile dysfunction for further development.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between the condition and military service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, a respiratory disorder, and the residuals of a TBI as there is no evidence supporting these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for early onset of menopause and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the medical evidence did not support a finding of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, and thus could not establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Tolosa-Hunt syndrome were rated at 100% effective July 13, 2011. The Board granted an earlier effective date for DEA education benefits based on this rating.

The Board denied service connection for left and right foot disorders, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, feet disorder, sleep apnea, and vestibular disorder have been denied.,An effective date prior to January 4, 2016, for the award of service connection for these conditions has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate VA assistance and potential extraschedular consideration. The issues are related to residuals of a retained foreign body in the neck with degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be service connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, but needs further evidence and an addendum opinion to determine if this is true.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted, and therefore, the claims are denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, sleep apnea, hypertensive vascular disorder, skin disorders, and other issues.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.