Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several claims, including those related to psychiatric disorders, back and neck conditions, OSA, knee disorders, and hypertension. The Veteran's request for a DRO hearing remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arrhythmia, angina, arthritis, respiratory disorder (OSA), and skin disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted service connection. The claim for a sleep disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to undergo new VA examinations to determine if he has these conditions and their etiology.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,Service connection for bladder cancer is also denied due to the lack of any documented onset during active duty and insufficient medical evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer is remanded as there is no objective evidence of a current deformity of the penis that would warrant a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.,Service connection for prostate cancer, status post radical retropubic prostatectomy, remains denied with an initial noncompensable rating and no effective date provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical guidance and examination regarding his claimed disabilities, including TBI, breathing problems, and sleep apnea. The VA will obtain treatment records, schedule examinations, and determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's left hand injury, unspecified joint swelling and pain, ddd of the lumbar spine, sleep apnea, skin rash, face, chest, and arms, and headaches are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, HTN, and a stomach disorder (GERD and H. pylori) due to new and material evidence received since the final April 2009 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a vision disorder, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's gout is granted as secondary to his service-connected pes planus and lumbar spine disability. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board has remanded two issues related to undiagnosed illnesses affecting the Veteran's hands and wrists. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions, which are currently rated as 20 percent each.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for OSA and remanded it due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for the sleep apnea claim and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's sinus disability, diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, is granted. The right knee and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The obstructive sleep apnea claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his bilateral knee disorder and sleep apnea. His skin disability ratings are denied, but he has a new rating of 20 percent for painful scars since May 5, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, DM, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder were denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, left knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder), sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain (claimed as low back pain) prior to April 28, 2014 is denied. The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s symptoms warranted a higher rating before this date.