Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and higher ratings was dismissed due to withdrawal. The RO granted a 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD prior to May 21, 2012, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of asthma, sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis related to service exposure. Service connection was granted for valvular heart disease with a staged rating from January 16, 2017. Increased ratings were denied for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, and back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, hypertension, cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease with congestive heart failure, aortic aneurysm, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and generalized anxiety disorder) due to the Veteran's in-service conditions.,Service connection is also granted for these conditions on a secondary basis to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shin splints, sleep apnea, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether sleep apnea is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of sleep apnea being granted. The remaining issues were either not reopened or denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and dementia (to include as secondary to PTSD) due to the evidence showing these conditions were incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service, and therefore remands the case for a VA examination.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus type 2 was granted. The case is remanded for further action on the remaining issues, including service connection and rating determinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claim for sleep apnea, including as secondary to hypertension and/or PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current diagnosis was incurred in service or caused by an in-service injury, event or illness.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, specifically his exposure to crude oil during the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.

The Veteran's hemorrhoid disability is granted as service-connected. The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and remanded several issues related to his spine, knees, hearing loss, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, hypertension, varicocele, and epididymitis.

As new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability, the petition to reopen is granted. The appeal to reopen is granted. Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service connected reactive airway disease and depression is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for residuals of left index finger fracture is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service stressors and current medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, left ear hearing loss, and lumbosacral spine strain require additional development due to incomplete examination reports and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD, and for a left shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision is based on the opinion of two equally qualified medical professionals who concluded that the Veteran’s conditions are proximately caused or aggravated by their service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a kidney disability and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.