Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, including rosacea, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents because there is no current diagnosis of a skin condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cataracts has been dismissed.,His petition to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension was granted, and the claim is now presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left shoulder, lumbosacral spine, and cervical spine are granted service connection based on chronicity in service with continuous symptoms since separation.,The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted service connection based on exposure to loud noise during service with continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence not being considered in determining the current severity of the Veteran's right perinephric leiomyosarcoma status post right nephrectomy.

The case is being remanded to clarify the Veteran's psychiatric diagnoses and determine their etiology, as well as assess whether his current sleep apnea, hypertension, and drug addiction are related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between his conditions and military service. The Board has determined that additional examination is needed in several cases, including left great toe condition, left knee condition, and pharyngitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected deviated septum, but needs further clarification and evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset in service and granted service connection for it. The adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood claim is remanded due to outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not yet evaluated by a VA examiner, and the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on whether it is related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of current disability. The Board grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, based on a finding that her symptoms are etiologically related to in-service sexual assaults.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD, as well as other in-service factors.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further action on the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, which is intertwined with the issue of acquired psychiatric disability. The appropriate remedy is to defer adjudication of the sleep apnea claim pending the adjudication of the inextricably intertwined acquired psychiatric disability service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for asthma was reopened, but not granted as the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection for asthma was also granted secondary to service-connected disabilities (sleep apnea and PTSD). The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied due to lack of medical evidence linking it to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition had its onset during his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied a compensable rating for sinusitis. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered, with the Board finding in favor of service connection due to evidence showing his symptoms began during active service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain, but the Veteran's claim to a higher rating remains on appeal and requires further action by the RO.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, right foot neuropathy, left foot neuropathy, and acrophobia were all granted service connection. The effective date for the award of a 100% rating for coronary artery disease is March 7, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating since August 21, 2013. His low back and bilateral foot disabilities have also been granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disc disease with spinal stenosis and DJD, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging a VA examination. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to the Veteran's assertion of additional disabilities preventing her from working.