Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during service and has been continuous since then, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is reopened. The claims for osteoarthritis of the shoulders, hands, and back are denied. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeals for service connection for various disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request.,His PTSD claim is denied with a rating of 50 percent, which is the highest disability rating available under the criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for sleep apnea and fatigue, claiming chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, with Dr. V.Z.'s opinion being considered persuasive.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to the need for a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether his obesity is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted service connection with an effective date of March 21, 1996. The Board also found that the Veteran has other disabilities for which he is already receiving service connection.,Service connection was established for sleep apnea and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for right ear hearing loss disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and bilateral foot condition. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are granted. The Veteran's claims for vertigo, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), nephrolithiasis, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. A new examination must be provided.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is as likely as not attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine with adhesions was granted a 50% rating from August 8, 2011. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, chronic back disability, and OSA, were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected squamous cell carcinoma, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his active duty service and his current condition. The Board also found that his PTSD did not aggravate his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current sleep apnea began during active service and grants this claim. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and hypertension as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.