Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

Service connection for bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to herbicide and chemical exposure, is denied.,Service connection for hypertension, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), to include as secondary to service-connected restrictive and obstructive lung disease, is denied.,Service connection for a bilateral foot condition, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure, is denied.,Service connection for a bilateral hand condition, to include as secondary to upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and as a result of exposure to herbicides, ionizing radiation, and other toxic chemicals, is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and kidney condition have been granted, with the Board finding that both conditions began during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, PTSD, degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, sacroiliac radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his current lumbosacral spine disorders. The issues of service connection for right shin disorder as secondary to service-connected right knee disability, evaluation in excess of 30 percent for right TKA, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder disorder due to VA care, temporary total evaluation for service-connected disability (claimed as right shoulder), and evaluation in excess of 30 percent for right hip bursitis and adductor tendinitis are REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and dismissed the remaining issues of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine and right knee conditions have been denied. The lumbosacral spine condition is rated at 10 percent, effective from August 26, 2008 to July 25, 2018, and the right knee condition remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, narcolepsy, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to new evidence and development needs.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected cardiomyopathy with chronic atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral DDD has been rated at 40% since April 25, 2012. The TDIU claim is granted as the service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD has been granted. Service connection for COPD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service-connected PTSD or if it was aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service or is related to her service-connected disabilities, including her cervical spine disability and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension claim has been withdrawn. The right ear hearing loss claim remains on appeal and is denied as the evidence does not support a compensable rating.,The chronic lumbosacral strain with left lower rib cage strain, right knee disability prior to February 4, 2016, and splenectomy claims are remanded for further development.,The left knee disability claim remains on appeal and is also remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the condition and either active duty service or service-connected adjustment disorder.

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

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left knee disorder, sleep apnea, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and headaches due to incomplete compliance with previous remands. The claims are now pending again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate rationale in a February 2017 medical opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his service-connected PTSD.