Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus (diabetes), and folliculitis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether each condition is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected asthma.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, back, right hip, left arm (claimed as progressive muscular atrophy), and right arm disabilities. Service connection was granted for migraine headaches.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disorder and sleep disorder due to potential exposure to burn pits, but further verification is needed regarding the Veteran's deployment in Iraq.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for bladder cancer and depression, reopening of previously denied hearing loss and sleep apnea claims, an increased rating for PTSD, and a TDIU. The remand requires further medical opinions regarding these matters.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and other claims are remanded.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea, but remanded the issue of reopening his claim for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD, effective April 27, 2009, has been granted. The effective date for service connection for sleep apnea is set at December 8, 2006. TDIU was also granted effective April 27, 2009.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities. The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in the previous VA examination opinion regarding whether OSA had its initial onset in service or was otherwise caused by active service. A new opinion is required, including consideration of credible statements from the Veteran and his spouse about symptoms during and since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, have been sufficiently disabling to render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a definitive opinion and potential missing records. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant records from his incarceration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence, including a private audiogram showing current hearing impairment within VA standards, was sufficient to reopen the claim.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it was first manifested during service and not attributable to any other cause.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to hazardous materials, including burn pit exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded to obtain a medical opinion addressing the etiology of his sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder, OSA, HTN, and lumbar disc disease has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that a VA examination is necessary to determine if his sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.