Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis, COPD, OSA, and a skin condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service, but needs further evidence to confirm this. The case is sent back for a more detailed examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted as the condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but has remanded it to determine if there is a nexus between his current condition and his active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA. The issue will be decided on its merits.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain of L4-L5 (low back disability) is granted. Service connection for low back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Right eye laceration is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,Depression is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,Cervical spine disability remains at 20 percent, with no higher rating granted.,Thoracolumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent, with no higher rating granted.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to insufficient recent medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not meet any of the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing whether it is related to service-connected conditions or other factors.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and sinusitis, finding that the current disabilities did not have their onset in service or were related to military service. The Veteran's claims of exposure to air pollutants during service were not considered as they are not a recognized basis for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an increased rating for right ankle sprain, and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional development is needed including verifying ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA dates, obtaining SSA records, and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected low back condition and right radiculopathy, leading to their dismissal.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative disk and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and headaches due to inadequate reasons and bases, including failure to address whether VA should obtain additional medical evidence or opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include sleep apnea, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Prior to January 25, 2017, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,On and after January 25, 2017, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that was not considered by the RO. The issue of whether obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by a service-connected disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, CAD, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to the need for a medical examination.,It is noted that these conditions may be secondary to obesity, which resulted from the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.