Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have been incurred during active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD and sleep apnea are granted service connection. COPD, hypertension, and a headache condition are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and left elbow triceps tendonitis with s/p healed fracture of the radial head were denied in June 1992. The effective dates for service connection are March 13, 2015, and July 14, 2016 respectively.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, joint pain (claimed as pain in all joints shoulder down to feet), sleep apnea, hypertension, and posttraumatic stress disorder due to a lack of VA examinations.

Service connection is denied for a lumbar spine disorder.,Service connection is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia.,An effective date of September 12, 2011, but no earlier, has been granted for service connection for headaches. The Veteran's informal claim was received on that date.,The effective date for the award of service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as it cannot be earlier than December 21, 2011.,The effective date for the award of service connection for sleep apnea is denied as it cannot be earlier than December 21, 2011.,The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied as it cannot be earlier than December 21, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to service, but more information is needed from a VA examiner regarding whether it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology, including whether it was caused by service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbosacral disability and secondary to a left shoulder disability due to lack of adequate examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypertension, OSA, and PTSD. However, it denied the claims for a back disorder, right shoulder disorder, insomnia, and PTSD due to lack of evidence establishing a direct or secondary relationship with service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of hypertension, TDIU, and rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis of bilateral knees and ankles, a low back condition including arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea. The claims of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's back and hearing loss disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various disabilities, a reduction of the rating for prostate cancer residuals, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are pending and need further investigation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability (including plantar fasciitis) and obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle arthritis (gout), left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision was based on a lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint/disc disease was denied an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to November 11, 2015.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint/disc disease was granted a 50 percent rating effective from November 11, 2015.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent from July 18, 2018.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent from July 18, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during service and concluding that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to service, but more information is needed from a qualified examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary embolism as secondary to medication taken for service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.