Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea have all been denied.,There is no effective date earlier than July 17, 2014 granted for any of the service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The examiner did not provide a clear and unmistakable opinion on whether OSA was present prior to service or aggravated by service, nor did they address the Veteran's post-service symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, low back/lumbar spine disability, right shoulder, knee, ankle, and/or foot disabilities, and psychiatric disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding his current diagnoses are not credible.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to new and material evidence. The lung disability (including OSA, GERD, and PTSD) and psychiatric disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremity, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to service or caused by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral hip condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction was granted. Service connection is established for PTSD with a rating of 70 percent effective from April 9, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, vision disability (cataracts), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is remanded.,A TDIU application has been raised by the record.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for bilateral pes planus was dismissed. His claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been granted.,The Board also remanded the issue of an increased rating for right ankle DJD due to insufficient clinical findings in the VA examination report.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, right shoulder, tinnitus, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and headache disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent prior to May 23, 2014. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for his low back disability and dismissed the TDIU claim due to SMC already being in place.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for PTSD, dyssomnia, and sleep apnea due to unsuccessful attempts in obtaining the Veteran's service records. The VA will make another attempt to obtain these records from the appropriate agencies.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, rating for anxiety disorder NOS, and TDIU due to outstanding records from SSA and further medical clarification is needed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and asthma have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The decision on these issues will be reconsidered after further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a deviated septum is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for myofascial pain is granted, but the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to lack of a VA examination opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA and whether it is related to service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to COPD and due to in-service rhinoplasty surgery. The Veteran's condition was not evaluated by VA, and a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and lumbosacral strain have been granted service connection, with the lumbosacral strain receiving a disability rating of 40 percent.