Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if sleep apnea began during service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for OSA, finding that the disability first manifested on November 2, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but further examination is needed to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and sleep apnea are related to his time in service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis is rated at 20 percent prior to July 13, 2015, and at 40 percent since that date.,An initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder was granted from May 9, 2018 to September 10, 2018. A higher rating is denied as of September 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, treatment records review, and retrospective medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary fibrosis. The cases of atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for a bilateral knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, as it relates to both diabetes mellitus type 2 and PTSD. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether there is a direct link between the Veteran's in-service snoring problems and current sleep apnea, as well as whether the sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 or PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been withdrawn.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is denied.,Service connection for a thyroid disorder (including hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis) as secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms of loud snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep are related to his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of recent medical evidence and an opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the calendar year 2017 for a back brace is granted due to wear and tear on his clothes caused by using a back brace.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions did not manifest in or are otherwise attributable to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. Service connection for GERD and migraine/tension headaches, both secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease, status post anterior fusion, radiculopathy right upper extremity, and right hand tremors, all claimed as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Bipolar II Disorder and OSA, secondary to service-connected bipolar disorder.,A VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claim for OSA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner did not provide a direct service connection opinion and did not address the lay statements describing signs and symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of migraine headaches is granted. The claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, a stomach condition, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were found to have existed prior to her military service and not aggravated by it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.