Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, manifested by pain with limitation of motion, is now granted as service-connected.,His left lower extremity radicular pain and partial paralysis of the sciatic nerve are also now granted as service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, psychiatric disability (to include depression), and sleep apnea or sleep disorder due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and her active service.,The case is remanded as there are no clear indications that any current disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is reopened. Service connection is granted for OSA secondary to GERD. The claim for allergies is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypersomnia, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service or due to any service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity as these conditions are not considered diseases or injuries subject to service connection. The Veteran's claims were denied on a direct basis.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating for bilateral pes planus is dismissed. The service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction on a secondary basis are both remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability (intervertebral disc disease), bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, and prostate cancer are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service treatment records do not document any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and sleep apnea syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and pain from other disabilities are found to have caused his sleep apnea. However, there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and psychiatric disability due to in-service events. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after separation from service.,Service connection could not be established because the Veteran did not have a continuous diagnosis of these conditions since service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including right shoulder injury, low back injury/surgery, eye disabilities, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, lumps on back of right shoulder, residuals of sores on back of head, chloracne, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and depression. The remand includes obtaining VA treatment records from the San Antonio VAMC, National Guard or Reserve service records, and clarifying private audiological evaluation results.

The Board found that the original service connection for lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee was based on a clerical error in the September 2013 administrative decision. The appeal is denied as the severance of service connection was proper.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2019 VA examiner's opinion. The Board requests an addendum opinion from another appropriate medical professional, considering the Veteran's lay statements and VA/privae treatment records.

The Veteran's OSA is found to be related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and gastritis, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure in Southwest Asia.