Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected low back disability, and a new examination is needed to determine if this relationship exists.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease that caused the current condition. The Board finds that weight gain during service does not qualify as a discrete incident for purposes of service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered in relative equipoise with his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, leading to a determination that his back condition is at least as likely as not related to this service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of in-service symptomatology or an event, injury, or disease that could have resulted in the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease and dizziness, sleep apnea, heart conditions, cervicogenic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied.,There is no evidence of any diagnosed condition related to the Veteran's military service in his records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, status post left knee lateral meniscectomy, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service, specifically his SAD service in September 2001. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine this relationship.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headache disability due to insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected hip disability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left leg radiculopathy, tinnitus, right knee scar, sleep apnea, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, chronic right and left leg disabilities to include blood clots, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a left knee disorder, and right and left foot diabetic neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial 70% rating for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hyperhidrosis due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's back condition and sleep apnea were not found to be related to his military service.,His hypertension was also not found to be related to his military service, with the exception of a possible link to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and memory loss due to environmental exposures during his Persian Gulf War service. The VA will obtain all relevant medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and right upper extremity disabilities. The claims for myocardial infarction, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are denied.

The Board denied an effective date prior to October 3, 2007 for service connection of sleep apnea. The reduction in rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for the Veteran's right hip disability was upheld. The reduction in rating from 40 percent to 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was also upheld.

The Veteran's OSA is being remanded for a new opinion regarding its etiology, specifically whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and binge eating disorder. The issue of hypertension secondary to PTSD will not be discussed further as the Veteran has not yet filed his claim on the standardized form.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for GERD was denied. The claim of entitlement to service connection for OSA, to include as due to exposure to herbicides, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD with alcohol use disorder, sleep apnea, and a dental disorder secondary to PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for further examinations.