Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD. The Court has ordered a remand due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated the sleep apnea.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for back condition (secondary to bilateral knee condition) and bilateral ankle condition (secondary to bilateral knee condition).

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection, but his headaches and knee disabilities were denied initial ratings. The issue of TDIU has been raised as part of the increased rating claims.

The Board has vacated the November 2018 decision and remanded two issues: service connection for a mental disorder (claimed as a psychiatric condition) to include as secondary to service connected disability, and service connection for sleep apnea to include as secondary to a mental disorder. The Veteran's representative argued that new evidence should have been considered in the November 2018 decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, sleep apnea, insomnia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (nightmares) as the evidence did not show a current disability or a link to military service.,Service connection was denied because there was no increase in severity of pes planus during service, and the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The rating for mood disorder with depressive features was restored from noncompensable to 50 percent effective May 1, 2013. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea and headaches but denied for high cholesterol and elevated liver enzymes.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea had its onset during active service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to his service-connected Reactive Airway Disease (RAD). The decision also reopened the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain has been granted service connection effective May 15, 2012. The appeal for left hip bursitis and bilateral fungal infection of the feet (jungle rot) is denied as there is no evidence they are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for sleep impairment (sleep apnea) is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of development regarding onset and etiology. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues, including the reopening of claims for sleep apnea and organic brain syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD, finding that it is less likely than not that these conditions caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive and central sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service and secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability related to his active duty service. The evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease, and the disabilities found are not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for gout is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and headaches are granted.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea with an effective date of March 31, 2013, which is one year prior to the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for hypertension is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoporosis and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and major depression are being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not have a current disability during service or within one year of discharge, nor can it be presumed based on chronic diseases.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during his active service.,Service connection for kidney stones and a pilonidal cyst were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.