Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Hiatal Hernia, both claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder. The case is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to address whether his respiratory disorder and right wrist conditions are related to service-connected sarcoidosis or other in-service exposures. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various ankle and foot disabilities have also been remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected nasal fracture disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his hypertension, sleep apnea, asthma, and hypothyroidism with morbid obesity.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's headaches, including whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and because VA treatment records from the Social Security Administration are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and are related to his current condition.

The Veteran's heart disorder is granted service connection as it was aggravated by his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder. The kidney disorder, joint swelling, and obstructive sleep apnea are denied as not being related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD/asthma, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis of either condition or any link between them and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has vacated its previous decision and granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic rhinosinusitis. However, both conditions were denied as they are not considered incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as service connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to PTSD.,Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity are both granted as secondary to lumbosacral spine strain.,Right wrist and hand disorder, and left wrist and hand disorder, are both granted as secondary to fibromyalgia.,Right arm and elbow disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right knee disability, as well as his claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a headache disability due to deficiencies in medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not originate in service or until years thereafter and was not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for sleep apnea, from October 4, 2011 forward, is denied as the service-connected left ankle disability and right leg scarring did not cause the need for a CPAP machine or chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale.

The Veteran's abdominal scar was granted a separate 10 percent rating effective August 8, 2019.,Service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD. The VA needs to provide a more detailed opinion on whether the sleep apnea is related to active duty symptoms or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to issues with functional loss during flare-ups and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS Thomaston and scheduling a VA examination.