Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's OSA was found to have started during his active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The appeal regarding the skin condition is stayed due to a stay of adjudication based on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. The appeals for sleep apnea, respiratory condition, and back condition are remanded.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, which may be related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and disc herniation, as well as his cervical strain and disc herniation. The claims were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial in October 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of dizzy spells, as there is a discrepancy between the diagnosed condition and the rationale provided.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits are being remanded due to the need for a vocational rehabilitation evaluation and functional capacity evaluations considering his service-connected disabilities, aptitudes, abilities, current educational skills, and proposed career changes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum due to a fractured nose. As such, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to the service-connected disability of deviated septum due to fractured nose is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for status as a Veteran due to lack of active military service, and thus denied any claims for service connection based on that status.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected sleep apnea. The Board finds that the evidence of record is insufficient to address the Veteran’s contention that his sleep apnea warrants higher than a 50 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee conditions, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, muscle tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination opinions and new evidence submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and respiratory disability (chronic sinusitis) due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or etiology in service. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea remains denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right hip avascular necrosis, left arm neuropathy, and left leg neuropathy. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected post-excision mucoepidermoid cancer of the soft palate.

The Board has identified several issues related to service connection that require additional evidence and a reevaluation. The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), joint pain, chronic headaches, GERD, skin disability, and sleep apnea are all remanded.

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

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted. The bilateral hearing loss disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claims have been remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is denied for the gastrointestinal, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea conditions as they are inextricably intertwined with the acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of cervical radiculopathy due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The Board granted a 50% rating for sleep apnea, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea was also denied.