Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, hypogonadism (claimed as low testosterone), type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The issues of service connection for a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleep disturbances) is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The appeal to reopen the claim is granted, but the issue of entitlement to service connection remains remanded due to the need for an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly sinusitis. The Veteran is also required to provide any outstanding private treatment records from Drs. R.M., MD, D.M.C., MD, and Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis for residuals of a head injury, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, or acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety). The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is currently rated at 40 percent from December 12, 2018. Prior to April 8, 2013, he was rated at 10 percent.,From April 8, 2013, his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right foot disabilities, hypertension, scars of the forehead and right wrist, chronic headaches, and sleep apnea. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 14, 2016 for the grant of service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further exposure assessments. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, and the ratings for TBI, tension headaches, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are all denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to his service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral tinnitus, and migraines are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain an addendum opinion addressing his service connection claims, specifically regarding OSA, bilateral knee disorders, and a skin disorder. The claims are currently pending.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as aggravated by diabetes mellitus, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show a current disability in either ear, and no medical opinion supports this finding. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder to include Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is remanded as there is insufficient consideration of lay statements and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's right knee, lumbar spine, and obstructive sleep apnea claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,The Veteran's left foot disability claim is remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease was granted, with the effective date being prior to May 2, 2017. The claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, left thumb disability, fracture of the ring and little finger of the right hand, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and generalized anxiety disorder were all granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no direct evidence of its onset during service and that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability with total left knee replacement as secondary to his service-connected right knee arthritis with total right knee replacement. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's acne vulgaris is rated as 10 percent prior to January 23, 2019 and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea was not diagnosed during service or related to service.,Service connection for recurrent ear infections (to include otitis media) and obstructive sleep apnea is denied.