Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as rosacea, is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's skin condition and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, and chronic depression, are granted. Service connection is denied for OCD, dissociative identity disorder, bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings, initial compensable ratings, and service connection due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The Veteran's right knee disability remains at a 10% rating, his scar is not rated higher than noncompensable, and his bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's low back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition during the appeal period.,Service connection for hypertension is granted, with an initial rating of 30 percent based on recurrent stone formation requiring treatment.,The Veteran's nephrolithiasis is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7508.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including upper back disability, hypertension, respiratory disability (due to asbestos exposure), leukemia, and thymoma cancer with hyperpigmentation and surgical scar, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,Specifically, the Board is requesting that VA provide a medical examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, including for tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus type II, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and PTSD. The exposure basis is presumed due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted.,Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied.,Service connection for COPD is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,Service connection for a libido condition, to include erectile dysfunction, is denied.,Service connection for a disability manifested by insomnia is denied.

The Board has determined that new evidence was submitted after the prior final denials of service connection for sleep apnea and tension headache, warranting readjudication.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have begun during his service, and the Board grants service connection for OSA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's appeals for further consideration of all evidence received since February 13, 2017. The issues include service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypercholesterolemia (claimed as cholesterol), leukocytopenia, and diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) are all granted. The effective date of the awards is April 25, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his condition began during active duty and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the appellant's sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and respiratory disability. The claims are currently in a state where further evidence is needed.

The Veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm is rated at 60 percent, effective April 25, 2019. The claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for lower back disability, back disability, bilateral foot disability, varicocele, sleep apnea, urethritis, headache condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as secondary to service connected disabilities) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's requests to withdraw his appeals on these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder and musculoskeletal conditions, are alleged to have caused his obesity and subsequently led to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's OSA was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's asthma is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical examination to determine if sleep apnea is related to service.