Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD was rated at 40% effective May 10, 2017. The increased rating for sciatica of the LLE and RLE from November 3, 2014 onwards is denied.,The Veteran’s claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to May 10, 2017 was denied as his forward flexion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, left hip disorder, lower back disorder, hearing loss, and COPD due to potential service connection issues. The VA is instructed to obtain any relevant private treatment records and schedule examinations to further investigate these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea disability due to insufficient rationale in the September 2017 medical opinion and lack of diagnosed sleep apnea disability in service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for higher initial disability ratings in all three cases, and the Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and verification of exposure. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to his in-service trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, vision disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right hip disability are not related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee and right ankle disabilities have been dismissed. The appeal for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and right shoulder injury, status post rotator cuff repair due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's OSA appeal is granted. Service connection for a low sperm count and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to the grant of service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and sleep apnea has been granted. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim of service connection for kidney stones. An effective date of April 21, 2017, is assigned for a 30% rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome, which was increased from 20%. The Veteran's right shoulder disability now warrants a 40% rating due to additional limitation during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, right knee strain, left knee strain, cervical strain prior to June 17, 2016, and lumbosacral strain from June 17, 2016 due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD or any prescribed medications for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability due to new evidence received since the April 1978 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, tinnitus, restless leg syndrome, prostate condition, hypertension, and rhinitis have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,VA examinations and a private physician's letter were considered. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran’s disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination and an incomplete opinion regarding the relationship between his PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea and low back disability are secondary to his service-connected right foot disability.