Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that new evidence has been added to the claims file and that VA treatment records are missing. The Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities have also increased in severity since his last examination. Therefore, the case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, secondary to degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, osteoarthritis of posterior facts at L5-S1, with low back pain have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.,These cases involve multiple issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the spine, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and Sleep Apnea were dismissed. The claim for reopening of her hypertension was granted, but the appeal is still pending as it has been remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether her hypertension is caused or aggravated by her service-connected hyperparathyroidism.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and granted it, finding that there is relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the condition had its onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and bilateral flatfoot. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The private opinion provided in June 2019 supports this decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence received since his last Statement of the Case. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any recent medical care providers and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia, finding that it is a symptom of underlying disabilities (obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is currently in remand status.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and sleep apnea due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's STRs show noise exposure during service, but his current hearing loss is not definitively linked to service based on the provided information. For sleep apnea, there are no VA treatment records before December 2015, and the examiner did not consider the Veteran’s reported symptoms in service.

The claim of service connection for a throat disorder is reopened and remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and hemorrhoids, finding that additional opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities or ACDUTRA. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left ankle disability and right ankle scar have also been remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and gall bladder condition, glaucoma and cataracts, and obstructive sleep apnea are not granted. The claims for hearing loss have been remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his request for a hearing and service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, concluding that there was no evidence linking his lymphosarcoma to his service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for sleep apnea and denied his claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability. The PTSD rating is remanded for further development.