Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is service-connected, as it had its onset during his active military service and is related to his current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for increased rating for traumatic brain injury residuals, service connection for right foot sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left sciatica has been granted. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on her claim for gynecological disability, including residuals of ovarian hydrosalpinx, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, initial evaluations for right shoulder strain and lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and spondylitis, evaluation for fractures of the tibia and fibula, and TDIU claim for the period prior to August 28, 2013. Additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any traumatic brain injury found to be present, as well as the current severity of his right shoulder, lumbar spine, and leg disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for appendicitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, OSA, and an increased rating for TBI. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate condition has been granted, making the issue moot. The Board has remanded issues related to obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), and psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these conditions are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, which is currently pending. The remand is due to an incomplete follow-up on the previous April 2019 remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and shoulder disorders, CAD, and OSA due to new evidence received since final denial of these claims. The Veteran's symptoms have been noted in service records.

The Board has remanded the claims of diabetes mellitus, type II; headaches; hypertension; a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD); and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents or toxic chemicals during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected low back disability. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy, sciatica, nonservice-connected pension, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, rhabdomyolysis of the right lower extremity as secondary to lumbosacral, lumbosacral strain, and rhabdomyolysis of the left lower extremity as secondary to lumbosacral due to a failure in developing the claim.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service-connected as it is not related to his service or PTSD.,The Veteran's valvular heart disease is not service-connected due to exposure of herbicide agents and diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes).,There is no evidence of peripheral neuropathy, bilateral feet in the record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected back disability and his bilateral hip, knee, and neck disabilities. The claims for increased rating of lumbosacral strain are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD has been granted. The initial rating for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) prior to February 20, 2014 is also granted.,Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea remains pending as a new medical opinion is needed due to the lack of specific analysis regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions and presumed herbicide exposure.