Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD. An addendum opinion is needed from a VA clinician to address whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his military service and specifically caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine if they are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during service and grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection for glaucoma, as secondary to the service-connected pituitary gland microprolactinoma with galactorrhea, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The claims include service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, a bilateral leg disability other than peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, right knee strain, dry eye syndrome, and adjustment disorder with mixed emotions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to events in service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatica, and OSA. The claim for reopening of the service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for right knee injury with ligament tear were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection for sleep apnea, and determined that the current rating assigned for right knee injury was appropriate.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not originate during his military service and is unrelated to any in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea did not originate during his military service and is not related to any in-service injury or event.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, and blood pressure condition. The Veteran's cholesterol condition is not considered a chronic disability warranting VA benefits.

The Veteran's left knee sprain and lumbar strain have been rated at 10 percent each, effective January 28, 2009. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's sleep apnea has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, despite requiring use of a CPAP machine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as the evidence does not show any current disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a total right knee replacement prior to October 5, 2016 is being remanded due to insufficient information in the April 2016 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his total disability due to individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence, but it remains denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and review of new evidence. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, high cholesterol, obesity, allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, asthma, sleep apnea, hernia, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, headaches, and seizures.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, tinnitus, and initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, right and left shoulder disabilities, a left and right wrist disability, a right ankle disability, and a right foot disability. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral ankle disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.