Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic skin disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of PTSD, as well as his claim for a higher initial rating for sleep apnea. The reasons are that no VA examiners have provided opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service or not, and because some treatment records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, resulting in a denial.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened and granted. The claims for sleep apnea and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for asthma, a left ankle disability, and a lumbar spine disability (to include bilateral radiculopathy). The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a higher rating for PTSD have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service event or nexus to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of his claim for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The case also has a pending request for a Board hearing on sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, COPD, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to new evidence received. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and headaches have been reopened, but the claim for a left knee disorder has been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of April 9, 2013.,The Veteran's claims for diabetes, right knee disability, and headaches are pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as the evidence supports that his condition was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disorder, cervicalgia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rhinitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, esophageal reflux, and anemia are all found to be related to service. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his bilateral knees and hearing loss, which require further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent effective April 25, 2017. The claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest in service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to obesity associated with PTSD and lumbar spine disabilities. The issue of a compensable rating for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain due to incomplete examination records and lack of recent medical evidence.

The claim is reopened and the appeal for service connection for rosacea, solar lentigo, actinic keratosis, and residuals of skin cancer is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right hand disability are not fully developed. These issues have been remanded to allow for further development.