Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last final decision supports reopening of the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his military service or Gulf War exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during and after service led to a post-service diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, PTSD, or environmental exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) as both conditions are found to have onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including heart disability, asthma, lumbosacral strain, and cervical spine disability. The remand requests additional examinations for cardiac and orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to pulmonary asbestosis, is remanded due to potential jurisdictional issues and need for additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hip, right knee, and low back disabilities secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right lower extremity radiculopathy, neck condition (low back condition), left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle strain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder bursitis and arthritis, as well as chronic lumbosacral strain, have been dismissed.

Service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, PTSD, and sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease and cervical spine degenerative joint disease have been dismissed due to the Veteran's authorized representative submitting a written withdrawal of these claims prior to the Board decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to his in-service conditions or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, finding that the Veteran's OSA is not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back condition, to include lumbosacral strain, was denied as the evidence did not show that his spine had a forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees or a combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including a new VA examination that complies with recent Court decisions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's knee disorder is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by active duty service or reserve training.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension, as the evidence does not support its onset during active duty service or reserve training. The Board found that the Veteran’s current diagnosis of hypertension is more likely related to his age and weight rather than any military service.