Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, OSA, a cardiovascular disorder, and hypertension as not related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning and development needs, particularly regarding whether obesity is secondary to a service-connected disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in not providing an adequate VA examination and because new evidence was submitted that warrants readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis and lumbosacral strain are at least as likely as not related to his service, including environmental exposures during deployment in Iraq.,Service connection is granted for a sinus disability (allergic rhinitis) and a lumbar spine disability (lumbosacral strain).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded as the VA medical opinion did not address whether it was due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 16, 2011 is remanded as the schedular requirements were not met and referral to the Director of Compensation Service under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b) is required.,The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents’ Educational Assistance prior to August 16, 2011 is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

For the period between October 9, 2014 and September 25, 2019, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,From September 26, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to service, specifically his time aboard the U.S.S. Marshall during active duty, and is requesting further development to determine if this relationship exists.

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.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial compensable evaluations for recurrent viral gastroenteritis and service connection for keloid and bumps on the scalp have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, an increased rating for a mood disorder, not otherwise specified, and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

Service connection is granted for a neck disability. The Veteran's right shoulder, bilateral heel, sleep apnea, hypertension, and GERD disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and neck disability has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a determination on whether to grant service connection for sleep apnea on a direct basis. The upper-GI disability rating remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a skin disability, as well as his claims of service connection for back condition, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for acid reflux, cervical spine disorder, upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, shoulder disorder, knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen these previously denied claims.,Service connection for costochondritis was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a bilateral foot disorder, finding that there is no evidence of such conditions during service or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, as well as his earlier effective dates for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and scars on the right scapula are remanded. Additionally, he is seeking increased ratings for his diabetic peripheral neuropathy conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any impairment of sleep is related to his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.