Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease and disc extrusions, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, and left varicocele is denied.,Effective dates for these grants are not being granted prior to March 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right thumb disorder and sleep apnea due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various psychiatric, sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, and headaches. The issues include verifying in-service stressors, obtaining SSA records, and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has not been reopened as the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has not been reopened due to the lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rashes and skin tumors has not been reopened as the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for a vestibular disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including an eye condition, residuals of a head injury, PTSD, breathing condition, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims were not supported by new and material evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea case is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ankle disability was denied in an August 1994 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim, so the denial remains final. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a 30% initial rating for migraine headaches have been granted. The issue of an increased rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA records from the Birmingham VAMC and determining whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, low back condition, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for a cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his service in the Gulf War and is therefore granted as a direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, cervical spine disability, and anorexia nervosa are remanded as the Board is unable to make a determination without additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for sinusitis, chronic laryngitis, and sleep apnea due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea has warranted the use of a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine during the entire period on appeal, and thus she is entitled to a uniform 50 percent initial rating from October 26, 2013.