Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for thyroid disability, left wrist disability, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and back disability due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or link to service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic and psychiatric disabilities are found to be the likely cause of her diagnosed MDD, GAD, OSA, respiratory condition, GI disability, and breast cancer.

The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, lumbosacral strain (also claimed as thoracic spine condition), left knee condition, right knee condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition. The appeal is dismissed due to a lack of a valid substantive appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress has been rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, cervical strain, neurological disorder, sleep apnea, right arm disorder, and left arm disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not have their onset in active service or within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at July 30, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of medical opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The VA needs to obtain records from Dr. Hanley and provide a supplemental medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, either directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected CAD and/or hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty and is unrelated to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service and granted as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to assess the severity of his back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as he reported worsening symptoms since the last examination in May 2016.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connected. The issue of increased rating for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as his representative withdrew all issues on appeal in September 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records, scheduling a VA medical examination to determine the current severity of Meniere's Syndrome, and obtaining an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include obstructive sleep apnea, is remanded due to the need for an examination and additional medical records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, but has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's OSA during service and its relationship to his military service. The Veteran and his family members have provided testimony and lay statements indicating that he experienced symptoms related to OSA in service, which continued after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions and a need for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits, leaving only the service connection claim for sleep apnea to be decided.