Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, bilateral dry eyes, and headaches is granted. The claims for other acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), left ear hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates due to insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran's OSA, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy are all being evaluated further.

An effective date of April 18, 2016, but not earlier, for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, ulcerative colitis, anemia, acne and boils (skin condition), and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as there are indications that it may have worsened.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder and to obtain additional private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service. The claim was also denied as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for sleep apnea and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, schizoaffective disorder, and sleep apnea. Additional records are needed to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart condition, which he contends is related to his active military service. The Board finds VA must provide such examination pursuant to McLendon.,The Veteran seeks service connection for stroke, which could significantly impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for epilepsy. The issues are inextricably intertwined and thus require remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for epilepsy, which could significantly impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The issues are inextricably intertwined and thus require remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for brain tumors, which he contends originated in service and continues to the present. As stated above, the Veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange has been conceded. The Board finds a remand is necessary to obtain such examination pursuant to McLendon.,The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, which could significantly impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined and thus require remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for lung condition, which he contends originated in service and continues to the present. As stated above, the Veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange has been conceded. VA treatment records reflect reports of asthma. Though the record does not contain a definitive diagnosis of asthma or other lung condition, based on his education and training the Veteran is competent to offer evidence of a current disability or persistent or recurrent symptoms of a disability. The Board finds a remand is necessary to obtain such examination pursuant to McLendon.,The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of an inguinal hernia, which he contends originated in service and continues to the present. The service treatment records show a diagnosis of right inguinal hernia in May 1963 and an inguinal hernioplasty in June 1963. The Board finds VA must provide such examination pursuant to McLendon.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diverticulitis, which he contends originated in service and continues to the present. As stated above, the Veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange has been conceded. The Veteran underwent a private colonoscopy in July 2016. The colonoscopy report reflects a diagnosis of diverticulitis and polyps. Further, STRs dated January 1966 show reports of abdominal pain, epigastric tenderness, and intermittent indigestion over a period of three months. The Board finds VA must provide such examination pursuant to McLendon.,The Veteran seeks service connection for polyps, which could significantly impact a decision on the issue of service connection for diverticulitis. The issues are inextricably intertwined and thus require remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, which he contends originated in service and continues to the present. He alleges this condition was caused or aggravated by his inguinal hernia and the 'wear and tear' associated with his military training. Alternatively, he alleges that his rheumatoid arthritis was a result of Agent Orange exposure. The Board finds VA must provide such examination pursuant to McLendon.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within a presumptive period, and that continuity of symptomatology was not established. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a medical nexus between his current condition and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, petrous apex lesions, and TBI have been remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran claimed his headaches were related to service, but no current diagnosis of TBI was found.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TBI due to inadequate examinations and conflicting evidence. The Veteran is seeking a new examination and opinion regarding his TBI claim, as well as clarification on whether his current sleep apnea is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, COPD, emphysema, and sleep apnea. The left knee disability claim is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a left knee disability, sleep disability (including sleep apnea), weight gain, and adjustment disorder with mixed features.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and bilateral diabetic neuropathy. The Veteran's VA treatment records from 2015 to present need to be obtained, and he should be scheduled for a VA examination to evaluate his peripheral artery disease.