Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as his symptoms had their onset during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, CAD and OSA are remanded due to lack of evidence addressing whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities or environmental exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to lack of evidence addressing whether this condition is secondary to his service-connected disabilities or environmental exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to lack of evidence addressing whether this condition is secondary to his service-connected disabilities or environmental exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to lack of evidence addressing whether this condition is secondary to his service-connected disabilities or environmental exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The OSA may be related to service-connected hypertension or diabetes mellitus, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor housebound.,The Veteran is currently unemployed due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has remanded for an updated VA examination to determine if the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from performing occupational tasks.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for left knee instability effective January 2, 2013. The application to reopen the claim for service connection for right knee disability is remanded due to new and material evidence being received. Other claims are also remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected low back disability, but needs further examination and opinion due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service connected as it was caused by noise exposure during active service.,The Veteran's cluster headaches, sleep apnea, and gastrointestinal disability are service connected as they began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms first began during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not received within the required timeframe, and thus he did not have a valid appeal to consider.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding various disability ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of these issues during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath/dyspnea, are due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service and the evidence does not support a finding that it was caused by exposure to environmental hazards. Service connection for diverticulitis is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for limitation of flexion of the right forearm and cubital tunnel syndrome, right have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder (pulmonary fibrosis) has been remanded as there is no diagnosis provided in the record.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and left elbow disability have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than November 10, 2014, for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for cubital tunnel syndrome, right has been remanded as there are outstanding treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for migraine headaches have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD with bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder in remission remains pending.,The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is also pending.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran has withdrawn appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, except for the TDIU claim which is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression secondary to a low back disability and sleep apnea secondary to depression. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions and potentially VA examinations.