Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate, and thus remands for further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service.

The Board has decided that there are outstanding private medical records related to the Veteran's sleep apnea claim and a remand is required to obtain these records. An additional opinion from a VA examiner is also needed.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and sleep apnea, finding that the conditions are related to exposure to herbicides while in active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lung condition, sleep apnea, and service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and needs to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral spondylosis without myelopathy is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2017 examination and its failure to comply with Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness and loss of balance, diarrhea, skin rashes, and migraines are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient medical or lay evidence to establish a current disability related to his claimed Gulf War exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition, left leg condition, and sleep apnea due to lack of VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson’s disease and remanded other issues due to insufficient evidence. Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as glaucoma (eye disability), paronychia/onychia, sleep apnea, colon polyps, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, was granted. The right shoulder disorder claim was reopened due to new evidence, but denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the condition is related to service. The left shoulder disorder and sleep disorder claims were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for atrial fibrillation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset in or is otherwise related to service. The Board also found that his PTSD did not cause or permanently aggravate his sleep apnea beyond normal progression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back disability as secondary to his right knee condition and for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to his lower back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, bilateral ocular disability (claimed as an eye condition), chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and prostate disability.,The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses of these conditions during his military service. The VA audiology examination in March 2016 found normal hearing for both ears.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his condition is related to military service or his service-connected depression. The Veteran will be given another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for various knee disabilities, depression, and radiculopathy due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

Service connection is denied for DDD of the lumbar spine, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, left foot condition, and right foot condition are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had symptoms of sleep apnea during service and is entitled to service connection for this condition.