Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right achilles tendon disability and hypertension are denied initial compensable ratings.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, abdominal group XIX muscle strain with spasms, allergic rhinitis, and ovarian cancer are all denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent. The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for stress incontinence beginning October 15, 2018.,The Veteran's painful scars and facial rosacea are both denied ratings higher than the current 10 percent. The Veteran's surgical scars are also denied ratings higher than the current 10 percent. Bilateral ankle and foot cellulitis is not rated as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The effective dates for service connection of allergic rhinitis, major depressive disorder, and stress incontinence have all been denied.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and rating increases need to be remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection is granted.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected persistent depressive disorder and awarded a noncompensable initial rating for lumbar strain and DJD. The effective dates for the awards were set at May 15, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for bladder cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, left leg aneurysm, and sleep apnea have all been denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle aches and joint pain (claimed as joint pain, muscular pain, loss of memory, dizziness, rash, fatigue, and shortness of breath) is denied. The Veteran's right knee patellar tendonitis, status post ACL repair, has not met the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran's lumbar paravertebral myositis and muscle spam with early degenerative changes from L3 to S1 requires further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea, as there is insufficient evidence of record regarding his current condition and its relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral heel spurs, bilateral shin splints, tinnitus, and sleep apnea were denied. The claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of February 16, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, prostate disorder, and stomach disorder. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected nephropathy with hypertension and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, OSA, lumbar spine strain, migraine headaches, and duodenal ulcer were denied. The claim for increased rating of right lower extremity radiculopathy was remanded. Service connection for chronic fatigue, hypertension, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with anxious distress) is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically his psychiatric disability and obesity.

The Veteran's OSA and insomnia are being remanded for further development, including obtaining the complete VA sleep study report and providing an addendum medical opinion to address the relationship between his current OSA and service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a substance abuse disability has been reopened. The issues of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disabilities, including a substance abuse disability; right foot disability; sleep apnea; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; esophageal disorder; hypertension; chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD); and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, hypertension, and OSA were all denied as the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence received since the last consideration.