Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset in service and there was no evidence linking it to any symptoms or diagnosis during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and an inguinal hernia, finding that the Veteran's conditions are causally related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service, and thus grants service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disease with spinal stenosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and for further clarification. The Veteran's lung disability, including obstructive sleep apnea, is being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to sever service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea due to a late filing of his VA Form 9, which was not received within the required time frame.

The Veteran's granulosa cell tumor associated with total abdominal hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries is granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating. The right knee disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have its onset during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a determination on whether it is related to his military service or secondary to PTSD. His respiratory and skin disorders are also remanded, with the need for an addendum opinion regarding their onset in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with remand directives.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the initial opinions do not address his claims or supporting lay statements regarding exposure to environmental hazards and burn pits. The issue of secondary service connection due to allergic rhinitis is also addressed on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for soft tissue sarcoma as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type II, as these issues have not been fully addressed due to lack of a VA examiner's opinion regarding their etiology and whether they are aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, wrist condition, sleep apnea, and PTSD have been denied. The claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye condition and right eye condition are also being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, and has remanded for further evaluation of his right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 1, 2015, for the start of payment of disability compensation based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date of the grants of service connection was January 1, 2015, but actual payment began on February 1, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and migraine headaches due to incomplete compliance with previous remands. Specifically, additional VA treatment records from before 1998 need to be obtained, and in-person examinations by a medical professional are required.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, as well as to obtain additional VA treatment records. The claims for higher ratings for DM II with cataracts, PVD of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded due to lack of recent evaluations. Additionally, a TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.