Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, including the evaluation of total right knee arthroplasty, coronary artery disease prior to January 4, 2018, service connection for lung disease, and service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and her military service, as well as any potential aggravation of her sleep disorder by other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several service connection claims and the reopening of a claim, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is proximately due to, or aggravated by his service-connected sinus disability. The remaining issues regarding increased ratings for left knee and sinus disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for watery eyes, obstructive sleep apnea, a cardiac disability, hypertension, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD) are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds additional development is needed to address these issues.

Service connection is granted for capsulitis of the TMJs and hypertension. Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, IHD/CAD (Ischemic Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease), sternal manubrial dissociation with nonunion and atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The appeal is also remanded to determine a rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral PFS, as well as her other foot conditions. The Veteran was last examined over 7 years ago.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or chronicity within one year from separation. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder) and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to incomplete development.,The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, sleep apnea, enlarged prostate, and neck mass as there is no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for heart condition. The Board also found that none of these conditions are related to service or exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the current examination is inadequate and a new one examination is needed to determine if sleep apnea is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for high fevers with fluctuating body temperatures and sweating, as well as sleep apnea. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia, and an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease. The evidence did not support higher or separate ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his service-connected residuals of cerebral concussion and his current lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, bilateral athlete's foot, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, insomnia, and adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features).,There was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran’s active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including service connection for sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, hearing loss, psoriatic arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), psoriasis and eczema, hepatitis C, colitis, celiac disease, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 1, 2000. The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is the primary issue in these claims.

The Veteran's vertigo condition is proximately due to service.,The Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to service-connected PTSD.