Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea syndrome but has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea. The conditions are deemed to be related to his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep disability is related to his service, including any potential aggravation by a service-connected condition. The Veteran needs to undergo an examination and obtain medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development. The diabetes claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's polyarteritis nodosa is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or any in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and treatment records related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic bilateral hand and shoulder strains. The examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened and granted, with the decision to grant service connection for left knee injury, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

An increase rating of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is granted, effective February 4, 2017. The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment.

The Board has not addressed the service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability as they are considered to be 'unknown' due to lack of specific mention in the decision.,The claim for service connection for migraines, including as due to service-connected tinnitus, is granted after reopening.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is either caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and vertebral dislocation was denied. The Board found that an increase rating above 10 percent prior to September 23, 2016, or in excess of 40 percent thereafter is not warranted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are granted. The claim for an increased rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder, depressive with alcohol dependence syndrome is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypersomnia with sleep apnea, a heart disability, impotence of organic origin, acne, and type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during service or were related to service.,The Board also found that there was no exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) during the Veteran's service at Goose Bay Air Force Base in Canada.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to deficiencies in the VA-contracted examinations and the need to obtain additional records. The claims include service connection for sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, middle insomnia, and hypersomnia; and a higher rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The addendum opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities or medications.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected anxiety disability is granted. The Board finds that a remand is necessary as the VA examiner did not adequately address whether the Veteran’s obesity, caused by his service-connected anxiety condition, was a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his sleep apnea.

The claim for service connection for gout was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's testimony at a Board hearing suggests that joint problems during service may have been early manifestations of gout, but this opinion is not considered competent medical evidence.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been granted based on post-service diagnosis and evidence suggesting it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent from January 12, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending and requires further examination to assess the extent of his disability.