Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and TBI.,Service connection for an autoimmune disease (claimed as CFS) and a stomach disability are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides. The issues of sleep apnea, loss of use of creative organ secondary to diabetes, left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes, and right lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings and effective date for his service-connected disabilities, leaving only the lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, and sacroiliac weakness.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from a medical professional regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not that his service-connected disabilities have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected lung disability, coronary artery disease, and depressive disorder are being remanded. Additionally, the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, both secondary to his service-connected lung disability, are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disability, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.,For bruxism, low back disability, and sleep apnea, the Veteran's claim is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disorder and denied increased ratings for DDD of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran was granted a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for sleep apnea before a decision was made.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for sleep apnea was granted. His claims for increased ratings on left and right ankle DJD, hypertension, and for a chronic left knee disorder were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's period of active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development and review of financial eligibility for special monthly pension (SMP) based on aid and attendance/housebound.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin condition, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence showing a current disability in each case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, vitamin D deficiency, and sleep disorder (OSA) to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including vestibular neuronitis. The VA will provide new opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is granted. However, the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability remains denied.