Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected. However, due to incomplete examination and insufficient reasoning regarding aggravation of pre-existing headache disability by service-connected sleep apnea, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,A rating more than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability is denied, as well as a rating more than 10 percent for right knee disability and tinnitus. A compensable rating for hemorrhoids is denied, and a rating more than 30 percent for herpes is denied.,TDIU is remanded.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea was incurred during his active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was first diagnosed many years after service, and there is no evidence linking it to his time in the military. The Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further development or clarification of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his condition had its onset during service or is otherwise related to his service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted on an aggravation basis.,The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma is granted as secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of evaluating posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a VA annual clothing allowance for the year 2016 due to use of back and wrist braces is denied as her fabric-covered braces do not cause irreparable damage to her outer clothing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neck injury to include arthritis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for increased rating for lumbosacral strain is partially granted with a 40% rating effective February 23, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and lower back condition due to a lack of recent VA examination, which may have missed changes in his symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim will be reviewed again with an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED as directed. The issues of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiomyopathy with acute renal failure are remanded due to unresolved medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's low back condition characterized as degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with IVDS is currently rated at 20 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left lower radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee replacement and pain and numbness in buttocks due to secondary service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the condition was not incurred during or related to service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee condition and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's OSA is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his service, including a reported sleep study in 1996.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current condition and active service.