Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for headaches is granted, and the cases of lumbosacral sprain, TBI, and PTSD are remanded due to worsening conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient information regarding flare-ups during the October 2015 examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether obesity is an 'intermediate step' between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes and his currently diagnosed sleep apnea and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, sleep apnea, tinea corporis (skin fungus), and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient development, particularly regarding the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted, but his claim for service connection for allergies is still pending and requires further examination.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened. However, the issue of whether his sleep apnea is related to Gulf War service remains unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his finally denied claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and has determined that he had symptoms of this condition during service, which likely began in service. The Board also found a positive nexus between the current diagnosis and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his chronic headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disorder, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

Service connection for headaches is denied.,Service connection for OSA is granted on a secondary basis to PTSD.,The effective date of service connection for PTSD is July 15, 2013.,The effective date of service connection for tinnitus is July 15, 2013.,The effective date of service connection for DMII with ED is November 15, 2012.,The effective date of service connection for PN of the bilateral lower extremities is September 12, 2014.

The Board is remanding the case because VA treatment records related to a follow-up appointment for sleep apnea are not in the file. The Veteran was advised that his test result did not mean he didn't have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

The Veteran's asthma, lung cancer status post right lobectomy, sleep apnea, GERD, kidney disease, and headaches are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected PTSD or otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of back and right knee disabilities, and his claims for these conditions are denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches are not supported by the evidence of record. The appeals are therefore remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 9, 2009 for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea. The case is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and readjudication.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service.