Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the VA audiological examination did not show exceptional patterns of hearing loss.,Service connection for sleep apnea, respiratory condition other than sleep apnea (claimed as breathing problems), and sinus/allergy condition were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the need for a medical opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and personnel files, which may contain relevant information about his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, and thus denied the claim. The decision is remanded to obtain a proper medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's asthma causes or aggravates his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and pulmonary embolism with blood clots in the legs, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations. The issues of service connection and reopening of claims are addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a nose condition, and OSA secondary to the nose condition. The issues of service connection for a back condition are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board finds that the current VA examination opinions are inadequate.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and sleep apnea were denied as they did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for the left knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service. The initial rating for the left knee disability was also denied due to lack of compensable symptomatology under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current sleep apnea and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and requires an addendum to address whether the Veteran’s OSA is etiologically related to his active service, specifically in-service duty in humidity. The examiner should also consider if the Veteran’s OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected GERD and asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service occurrence or aggravation of either condition, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that his degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, lumbar disc herniation, and lumbosacral strain are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and left patellofemoral pain syndrome with strain, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for surgical residuals of an ectopic pancreas of the gastric mucosa in November 1976, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. The Veteran's motion for clear and unmistakable error was denied as there was no clear error found.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his skin condition of the bilateral feet is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show involvement of more than five percent of his entire body or exposed areas, and thus no higher rating could be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of healed injury right wrist is denied as the evidence does not show ankylosis or more than limitation of motion.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied because there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support their onset during service.