Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for effective dates and service connection due to issues related to Usher Syndrome, hearing impairment with vertigo, retinitis pigmentosa, and SMC based on loss of use of vision and hearing. The Veteran is seeking clarification on whether a separate rating for Usher Syndrome should be granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and urinary incontinence to obtain additional VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently pending.

Service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine is granted, while service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate opinions and new evidence, including a possible link between his cervical spine disability and service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss and lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral eye condition and special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.,Further development is needed to determine if any diagnosed disabilities had onset during, or were otherwise caused by, active service.

The Veteran's cervical spine DJD is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating due to lack of evidence showing forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less.,Prior to October 9, 2019, the Veteran's lumbosacral spine DJD was rated at 20 percent. Since then, it has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically related to in-service snoring, chemical exposure, and rhinoplasty.

The Board has remanded four issues: service connection for a left knee disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disability other than sleep apnea. The Veteran's varicose veins are the basis for these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to service, specifically in-service weight gain. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination to determine if his OSA is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's statements and his former spouse's observations provide at least equipoise evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected depression. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA opinion that addresses whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea was incurred in or caused by her active duty service and if it is related to her service-connected depression.,The Board has also remanded the issue of assigning a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected eczema prior to November 30, 2017. The AOJ must obtain VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s topical treatments constituted systematic therapy and if her sleep apnea is related to her service-connected depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence. Effective dates cannot be granted earlier than June 1, 2015.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sacroiliac joint dysfunction and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) due to new evidence. The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted, but his PTSD rating remains remanded as it may have increased since the last VA examination in 2016. His back issues are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum and nasal fracture residuals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to military service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were also denied, with no new evidence provided that would warrant an increase in rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability secondary to obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is being reviewed, and if granted, his heart disability will be considered as well.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination, and an additional opinion is needed from a sleep disorder specialist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, residuals of a fractured rib, kidney disease, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's hypertension is not presumed due to his service in Southwest Asia.