Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and VA medical records. The VA’s Director of Compensation Service will consider the extraschedular consideration for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no in-service diagnosis or relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 10, 2014 for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The decision found that the correct facts were before the RO at the time of the December 2008 rating decision and that the existing legal authority was correctly applied.

The Board has remanded multiple issues including service connection claims, rating determinations for hearing loss and tinnitus, and the reopening of previously denied claims. The appeals are pending and will be addressed in a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis in multiple joints and other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is denied as it is based on the same factual basis as his previously denied head injury claim. The claim to reopen this issue has been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with a 10% rating over the entire appeal period.,Service connection for duodenal ulcer disease with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted at a 20% rating over the entire appeal period. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is remanded as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence indicating its onset during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The bilateral foot disability claim is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for Meniere’s disease and sleep apnea, but has remanded the claims for left knee disability and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection. The appeals for the left knee and right knee disabilities were dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability and in-service experiences.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's left leg neuropathy is denied as secondary to his service-connected sinus disability, but remanded for further examination and opinion regarding sleep apnea.,Service connection for sleep apnea cannot be granted because there is no direct or presumptive evidence linking it to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, MDD, and Sleep Apnea. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of current diagnoses without a verified in-service stressor or other causative link.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, CVA residuals, OSA, ED, and vascular dementia due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions regarding their onset in service.

The Board has remanded four issues related to hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder pain, and lumbosacral strain due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD is dismissed. The appeal for increased ratings of PTSD prior to June 22, 2017, and from June 22, 2017 onwards, are granted with a 50% rating and 100% rating respectively.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is granted, as new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. The Board finds that his sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction have been reopened, but the Board has remanded these issues due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding their relationship to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for sinusitis, sleep apnea (secondary to sinusitis), and fibroids with a resulting hysterectomy due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis and sleep apnea syndrome claims should be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination to address the etiology of these conditions.