Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires remand for several issues, including right ear hearing loss and osteoarthritis of the left knee as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine L5-S1. The Veteran is also required to undergo additional examinations for his right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, and dysthymic disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's service connection and increased evaluation claims are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's sinusitis, bronchitis, and sleep apnea were granted service connection. The right shoulder disorder and chronic inner ear infection are remanded for further review.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not shown to be related to his service or any service-connected disabilities, and the Board denies the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for arthritis of bilateral hips and primary snoring (claimed as sleep apnea), and has also granted a rating in excess of 70 percent for his schizoaffective and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claims for stomach disability, erectile dysfunction disorder, venous insufficiency of the right leg and left leg, and sleep apnea secondary to service-connected PTSD have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD was granted. However, the appeal for a rating in excess of 70% for service-connected PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right forearm and hand neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis, as well as an increased rating for PTSD. The issue of a higher rating for the deviated nasal septum was also denied.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional verification of service records, particularly those related to Army Reserve and National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service. The Veteran will be asked to provide medical records and a new opinion may be needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include sleep apnea, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is caused by medications taken for his service-connected Reiter’s syndrome. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending and requires further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted TDIU from January 1, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not show it was related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and developing a radiation dose assessment. The examiner will be asked to determine if there is at least as likely as not that his sleep apnea is related to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, diet, sleep habits, and headaches.

The Veteran's right great toe degenerative changes are presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran is granted a rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease status-post myocardial infarction from July 3, 2013 to November 3, 2015.