Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and that the Veteran's current OSA is not related to his service-connected bronchiectasis and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), and headaches.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea and adjustment disorder, have been granted. The Veteran has also received increased ratings for his left knee condition and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. Additionally, he has been granted TDIU status in certain periods.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been remanded. His initial rating for MDD remains denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The left knee disabilities are remanded for further development as they may warrant increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to incomplete records, need for VA examinations, and other procedural issues. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable disability rating for his residuals fractured right ribs T5 through T7 level as he testified that his symptoms include an inability to walk more than a block and run due to pain.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and short-term memory loss (mild cognitive impairment) are denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were present during his active duty and supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred during service and is denied as the evidence does not show a causal relationship to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to residuals from a tonsillectomy performed during military service, needs further development and an addendum opinion is required.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for dysthymic disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, right elbow condition (loose body), right elbow cubital tunnel syndrome, and right elbow scar.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran’s left little finger disability rating has been restored to 10 percent effective February 7, 2015.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder and medications. A temporary total rating for convalescence following back surgery is granted, with a 40% rating for the back disability from October 1, 2011 to January 17, 2016. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for the back disability after January 18, 2016 is denied. His acquired psychiatric disorder does not meet criteria for a TDIU. A total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The appeals for a compensable rating for hearing loss and service connection for sleep apnea have been dismissed.,The claim to reopen the previously denied skin condition has been granted, with service connection established for a head and face skin condition.,Service connection is being remanded for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and secondary service connection for sleep apnea due to a deviated septum. The Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea was not related to his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral disorder and right-sided sciatica due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for chronic respiratory infections, hemorrhoids (claimed as anal fissure), a left arm condition, and sleep apnea have been denied. A 30 percent rating has been granted for the gastrointestinal disorder (hiatal hernia/GERD) effective March 8, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because the effective date of September 11, 2007 is the earliest date he met schedular criteria for TDIU. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the November 2006 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and cause of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea during service.