Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a fully informed decision on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to unclear opinions and insufficient evidence regarding environmental exposures and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the auditory threshold criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as his reported symptoms are found to be related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for right hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for low back condition and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, finding that the evidence did not show a link between the current condition and service.

The Board has denied service connection for glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) due to the absence of a diagnosed disability. The remaining issues are remanded as the Veteran's service records, particularly those related to his Air Force Reserve service, have not been obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as his lumbosacral strain, were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnea as they are unclear what specific conditions he is seeking service connection for.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, squamous cell carcinoma, and sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for basal cell skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric condition (including MDD and PTSD). The Veteran's initial rating for kidney stone disability is now 30 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims of residuals of a left elbow cyst excision, bilateral shin splints, and a traumatic brain injury. The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected acquired mental condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 40% rating for his lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease. The separate 20% rating for right sciatic nerve radiculopathy is also granted.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and residuals of right wrist fracture with chronic sprain. However, further clarification on whether these conditions caused or aggravated OSA is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for development consistent with a recent Court holding, specifically addressing the severity and manifestations of her service-connected low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy during periods of flare-ups. The case is now pending again with the Board.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep-related symptoms began during active duty service and remands the case for obtaining any private treatment records from non-VA healthcare providers.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, and increased rating for a painful cesarean scar were dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawals of her appeals. The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a painful cesarean scar was also dismissed.,The claim for service connection for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) with degenerative wear was reopened and granted, while the claim for OSA was granted.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The Appellant's schizophrenia was not aggravated during ACDUTRA service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service, specifically his injury in 1993. The examiner needs to consider the July 1994 report where the Veteran complained of chronic back pain.