Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's vertigo is rated at 10 percent, with the possibility of a higher rating if he experiences dizziness and occasional staggering.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of additional dependent compensation for his spouse is granted, with the effective date set at March 1, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right flat foot, left flat foot, right hip osteoarthritis with femoral acetabular impingement, and left hip osteoarthritis with femoral acetabular impingement. The diagnoses are supported by the Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and instructions provided by the previous VA examiner. The Veteran's sleep apnea will need further evaluation, including a detailed history of symptoms and progression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during active service and is granted as a result.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating for left knee disability, service connection for glaucoma and prostate disorder, special monthly compensation (SMC), and service connection for lumbar spine disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate disorder has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for glaucoma has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted, but the claim remains pending as it was previously denied in April 2000 and reopened based on new evidence. The claim is still denied due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left foot disability, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability have been remanded as further development is needed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for headache disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded as further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his active duty service, including environmental exposure in Iraq and/or burn pit exposure, is inadequate. Therefore, further examination and opinion are required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea, including whether it is secondary to tobacco use or aggravated by a service-connected compression fracture deformity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection. The evidence did not support a finding of either direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis and many years after separation from service, nor secondary service connection as his PTSD did not cause or aggravate his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for Left Shoulder Disability, Right Shoulder Disability, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Lumbar Sprain. The eligibility for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disability, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer due to in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE). The VA is required to obtain relevant treatment records from VA facilities and a University Medical Center. A medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or TCE exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and GERD for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess their etiology and severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability, specifically whether it is related to service exposure or not.

The Veteran's claims for tinea cruris, tinea pedis, tinea versicolor and onychomycosis were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for MDD was granted due to its relationship with service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction.,The claims for tension headaches, GERD, and OSA were all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.