Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that no claim was filed prior to April 30, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service, including potential exposure to burn pits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 29, 2011 for service connection of moderate chronic lumbosacral strain and bipolar disorder are denied. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist fracture residuals and service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate examination reports and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain is denied. His claim for restoration of the 40 percent rating, effective May 1, 2015, is granted.

The Board has decided that the VA needs to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected conditions and if it was incurred in or related to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and sleep apnea. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling additional examinations, and considering a TDIU claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain, sleep apnea, and insomnia. The claim for service connection of astigmatism is remanded as it was not addressed by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting opinions and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral foot disability claims were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Service connection for thoracic aortic aneurysm, chest pain, PTSD, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral ankle swelling/disability, CAD, prostate cancer, chronic kidney disease, anemia, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded several issues including the rating for PTSD and service connection for lumbosacral strain and chronic headaches. The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated 70% disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 30 percent effective May 27, 2015 was properly calculated as he had four service-connected disabilities each rated at a 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for history of acute left maxillary sinusitis, a respiratory condition, and obstructive sleep apnea. The decision finds that new evidence received since the April 2004 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim for service connection for history of acute left maxillary sinusitis. For the respiratory condition and obstructive sleep apnea claims, the Board found in favor of the Veteran based on continuity of symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his current disability levels.

The Board has decided that further development of the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is necessary due to a lack of medical nexus opinion, and thus remands the case.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the current state of the Veteran's back condition. The initial rating for right knee strain remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, with an effective date of April 10, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) due to the Veteran's reported symptoms during military service and a VA examiner's opinion that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for cluster headaches, but has remanded the issues of sleep apnea and hypertension due to insufficient evidence.