Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and GERD were found to have begun during service, with the former being aggravated by anxiety disorder. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, sleep apnea, and thyroid disorder due to incomplete VA treatment records, inadequate examinations, and potential secondary service connection issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for OSA and Raynaud’s disease are granted. The skin condition issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the private medical opinions provided by Dr. A.P. and Dr. Z.B., which did not address whether the service-connected psychiatric disability caused weight gain, obesity, or aggravated sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not establish a relationship between the condition and the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, anxiety and panic disorder, and a back disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of major depressive disorder was withdrawn. Service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, left knee chondromalacia, skin disability, spondylosis of the back, and sleep apnea were granted. The Veteran's appeals for head injury residuals (right and left shoulders), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability were denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for OSA prior to February 4, 2016 and a 50 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's OSA was manifested by persistent daytime hypersomnolence before February 4, 2016 and required the use of a CPAP machine after that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The case is remanded for further development and an examination.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred in service, and thus remands the case for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not secondary to or related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals related to the appellant's claims for initial compensable ratings, effective dates earlier than specific dates, and service connection. The issues have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

All issues on appeal are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back injury, obstructive sleep apnea, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 30 percent rating for his right knee osteoarthritis since December 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, migraines secondary to tinnitus, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for his claimed conditions. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity, and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as secondary to his service-connected type I diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is also granted a 10 percent disability rating for his left ankle scar.