Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of residuals of pilonidal cyst due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's stroke, residuals of a shunt implant, and sleep apnea. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Board finds that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, headaches, fibromyalgia, and neuropsychological symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder to include obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic sleep disorder during service or that it is caused by his service-connected migraine and/or cluster headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and tension headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The effective dates are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a higher initial disability rating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and thus could not grant service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II is granted at a 20 percent rating, effective from November 19, 2015. The Veteran also receives a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and status post fracture of the left tibia/fibula due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider functional loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, a low back disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has found that the VA examination did not adequately address the Veteran's claims of experiencing 'sleeping issues' during service, and thus a new examination is required to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes alone does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, memory loss, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, left foot disability, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and erectile dysfunction (ED). The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and lumbosacral spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will be scheduled for updated VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes due to potential exposure to burn pits during active duty in Panama.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a higher rating for right shoulder strain/impingement syndrome. Other claims are not in appellate status.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection and found to be aggravated by her PTSD. Service connection for uterine cancer is denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran's pelvic inflammatory disease does not require continuous treatment, while cervical cancer residuals with hysterectomy are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, and PTSD. The Veteran's bilateral eye condition was not incurred during service nor did it manifest therefrom. His sleep apnea was not caused by a service-connected disability or due to an in-service stressor. His hypertension was not incurred during service and is not caused by any service-connected disability. He does not have a verifiable traumatic stressor or PTSD.

The Veteran's GAD is granted as service-connected.,PTSD and MDD claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 20, 2006 for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.