Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for allergies, sleep apnea (secondary to asthma), and migraines were all denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues related to service connection, including obtaining missing records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's heart disorder claim due to a lack of information regarding his service during STARS training. The lumbar spine disability evaluation issue requires compliance with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records, which are needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's heart disease and hypertension are not service-connected.,The Veteran's blood clots of the left leg, erectile dysfunction, right knee disorder, upper back disorder, foot disorder, sleep apnea, and abdominal aortic aneurysm are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in December 2017 is inadequate and remanded for further action, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination by a pulmonologist.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the remaining issues on appeal due to a lack of current evidence of these conditions. The Veteran's claims for emphysema, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and arthritis are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his service-connected PTSD and concluding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea did not begin during service or due to any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his thoracolumbar spine disorder is granted, with a current rating of 40 percent.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the Veteran's appeal as his child Dependent D turned 18 years old in March 2016, and he did not provide evidence that Dependent D was attending school. The reduction of compensation payments due to a loss of a dependent is appropriate.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but denied service connection for lung nodules. The Veteran was diagnosed with sleep apnea during service and the Board found that his symptoms were severe enough to warrant a diagnosis, resolving doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II due to new evidence received since the December 2015 SOC. The AOJ is required to consider this new evidence and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder is currently rated at 40 percent, effective December 2, 2014.,Service connection for the left hip trochanteric bursitis and abductor tear following surgery has been granted.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia, Barrett’s esophagus, gastric ulcer, and gastritis is granted an initial 30 percent rating.,Service connection for migraines is granted. The Board finds the evidence at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's migraines had their onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea, with the latter being secondary to a service-connected rhinitis disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral paralysis of the median nerve (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome) and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence requiring further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of the Veteran's back disorder, as well as his psychiatric disorders. The claims related to respiratory condition and sleep apnea are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection and rated as noncompensable prior to March 27, 2018, and at 20 percent since then.,Service connection for posttraumatic malunion with early (mild) arthritis of the left thumb was denied. The Veteran received a 10 percent rating prior to March 27, 2018, and a 20 percent rating since that date.