Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection for right lower lumbar radiculopathy, temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence after March 16, 2012, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of his spouse have been withdrawn. The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis lumbosacral spine has been granted a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and a bladder condition have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for DM, but denied it due to lack of evidence linking DM to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and inconsistencies in the examination reports.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is service connected, but has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his bronchitis, upper respiratory infection, and common cold.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his in-service symptoms of snoring, sleep disturbances, and weight gain. As a result, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity are all found to be due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as due to PTSD, but has remanded the issue of service connection for insomnia.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for a spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain. The Board dismissed the appeal as per the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea, which is claimed to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has been remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

All claims for service connection or increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disabilities do not have a direct link to his service, but the claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to incomplete VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and GERD have been granted, with the former receiving a grant of service connection and the latter being granted an initial rating.,For sinusitis, the Veteran received an initial 30 percent rating effective October 9, 2015. For rhinitis, he was granted an initial 30 percent rating as well.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from April 4, 2013 to November 30, 2016. From December 1, 2016 onwards, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, chronic laryngitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The appeals are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypoglycemia, fibromyalgia, parasomnia, sleep apnea, and pancreatitis. The cases are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left hip disability, sinusitis, and sleep apnea are related to his military service. Specifically, a VA examination is required to assess whether these conditions were aggravated by service or are otherwise related.