Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for depressive disorder with anxious distress, substance abuse disorders, and insomnia are granted. The claim for PTSD is denied. The Veteran also has an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and a TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of any sleep disability, including sleep apnea, to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities caused him to become obese, and if obesity was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, but remanded the issue of hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record and the need for a VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea began during service, was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and if so, what the relationship between these conditions is.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination report, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury and continuous pain since service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected Depressive Disorder, Left Knee Chondromalacia Patella, and Low Back Disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and an opinion on the etiology of his OSA.

The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease (DJD) effective December 19, 2017 was improper, and the 20 percent rating is restored.,Entitlement to a rating more than 10 percent for cervical spine DJD is remanded.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the spine or intervertebral disc syndrome. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was also found to be unrelated to his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected asthma. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for sleep apnea, a skin condition, bilateral knee conditions, lumbosacral condition, gastritis, GERD, and thyroid condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His Crohn’s disease is rated at the highest available rating of 40 percent. The Veteran's left lumbar radiculopathy remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings of sleep apnea, idiopathic anaphylaxis, and diabetes mellitus. The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. However, the appeal for service connection for depression disorder secondary to service-connected disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea prior to July 20, 2015 is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate condition, major depressive disorder, and hypertension due to a lack of recent examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease was granted.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability is found to have begun during his active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.