Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a collarbone condition, GERD, PTSD, and migraine headaches. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder with radiculopathy as it found no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition, and the continuity of symptoms since service is not credible.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective September 19, 2018. Service connection for PFPS of the right knee and left knee, as well as lumbosacral strain, has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pronation of her feet, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome due to secondary service-connected disabilities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all remaining issues.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy, left lower extremity are remanded due to the incorrect application of rating criteria. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that it was not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have pre-existing sleep apnea prior to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a chronic medically unexplained multi-symptom illness, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. Service connection has only been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, major depressive disorder, coronary artery disease with dyspnea, sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, and residuals of rib fracture.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to April 22, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and that new evaluations are necessary for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee injuries, and left knee injury. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to her PTSD. The medical evidence supports that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by her PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, but has remanded the issue of service connection for impaired vision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and OSA are denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claims for hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records from SSA and private treatment facilities.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae and sleep apnea were granted service connection. The Veteran was denied a compensable rating for his pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea. The case will be remanded to obtain clarifying opinions from VA examiners regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.