Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder. The issues are intertwined as they both involve his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine has been rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation in motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral feet toenail fungus, and hypertension are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied prior to August 13, 2013, and remanded for further development after that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, back disorder, and neck disorder needs further review due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral foot condition with eversion as there was no current disability found, and the Veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin conditions and hypertension due to exposure to herbicides. The remand requires additional opinions from VA examiners regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current skin conditions, including rosacea, solar lentigo, actinic keratosis, and residuals of skin cancer, and his in-service sun exposure and herbicide exposure. Additionally, an opinion is needed on whether hypertension is related to service-connected PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms of snoring and daytime somnolence began during service and have persisted since. The Board resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence. The main issues are about obstructive sleep apnea, transitional cell carcinoma (claimed as bladder cancer), prostate hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis, calculus of left ureter, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in April and August 2019 were inadequate to decide the service connection claims. The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral lower extremity disabilities are remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new examination.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and an initial compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The claim for entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the claim for irregular menstrual periods due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendinopathy and service connection for lumbosacral strain as secondary to right knee tendinopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his active service and current sleep apnea. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish that his sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, skin condition (rosacea), autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, residuals of liver transplant, and hepatic encephalitis are remanded.

The Veteran's depression has been rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted due to his symptoms being productive of occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive disorder, as well as his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to a psychiatric disability have all been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms did not have their onset during active service and were not otherwise related to such service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep apnea or hypopnea disability have been denied as the evidence does not meet the diagnostic criteria for these conditions.