Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not caused or aggravated by his service, and is not related to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and pulmonary hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) have been granted increased ratings, with the lumbosacral strain rated at 40% effective October 28, 2014, and the radiculopathy rated at 20% effective May 16, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the rating issues on appeal, including a new VA examination for GERD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability with surgical scar is remanded. The claim for service connection for a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his in-service injury or disease and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board also found no causal relationship between PTSD and OSA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and nature of the Veteran's sleep apnea, which is presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee patella tendonitis and lumbosacral strain have worsened since the last VA examination in August 2012. The Board finds that a more current examination is necessary to assess the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a 100% educational assistance benefit level under the Post-9/11 GI Bill due to his service-connected disabilities and over 30 continuous days of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus secondary to hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has decided to schedule the Veteran for an examination on his claim of sleep apnea, as he needs additional information and documentation from his family members or former service members.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding no evidence linking his current condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the claim is denied.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current sleep disorder diagnosis or link it to service. The claim for a sleep disorder (claimed as Sleep Apnea) is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The claim for a higher evaluation for lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Board found that termination of TDIU from December 1, 2017 was not proper due to the Veteran's employer providing special accommodations for his service-connected disabilities. The earlier effective date claim for June 1, 2015 is also remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for deep vein thrombosis, left lower extremity; pulmonary embolism; and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.