Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for a left hip disorder due to the lack of evidence of current disability.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded as there are insufficient reasons provided by the VA examiner regarding its onset in or relation to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 19, 2011, to September 6, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it was aggravated by service.

Service connection granted for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service-connected diabetes.,Service connection denied for depression as it is secondary to PTSD.,Service connection denied for hair loss presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure (Agent Orange).,Service connection granted for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is granted, but his request for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes and an earlier effective date for diabetes prior to December 19, 2016 are denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not shown to have started during his service, and the Board found that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea are remanded. Additionally, the claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, and a disability to account for memory loss. The Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his in-service injuries or illnesses.,Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, separate ratings for neurological impairments associated with his lumbar spine disability, an extraschedular rating for DJD of the lumbar spine, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to schedule a new examination for the Veteran regarding his sleep apnea claim and address the nature and etiology of any such condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for flat feet, memory loss (including as due to Gulf War Illness), and sleep apnea with fatigue (including as due to Gulf War Illness) due to incomplete STRs from the first period of active service.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disability, finding that the Veteran's current skin disabilities are not related to his military service.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, noting that additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 18, 2017, for service connection of various conditions were denied.,Claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left knee meniscal injury, PTSD, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee scar were also denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for meningioma (claimed as pituitary tumor), sleep apnea, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for a dose estimate related to potential radiation exposure during his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to the claims of service connection for psychotic depressive reaction, emotional instability, psychophysiological disorder, and application to reopen claim for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD has been denied.,A rating of 50 percent, but not higher, for PTSD throughout the appeal period is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to conflicting opinions and lack of medical evidence addressing whether his OSA is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected GERD.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 28, 2012 for the award of a 50 percent rating for sleep apnea. The decision is based on the requirement that a breathing assistance device was required for treatment.