Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremities. The claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bladder cancer are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected Sinusitis, finding that there is no relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased disability evaluations and service connection. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate his shoulder and back disabilities, as well as a PTSD examination and an evaluation of his claimed tremors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD or if it was incurred in service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy as they were granted in a February 2020 rating decision.,The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, deviated septum, and pharyngitis due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his time in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to opt-in to the Appeals Modernization Act system for his claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The decision regarding extraschedular ratings for residuals of frostbite injuries to the hands and feet remains unchanged.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for service-connected anxiety disorder as of April 15, 2019. The Veteran's symptoms prior to this date did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU since May 12, 2020. The case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration prior to May 12, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence that her current condition began during or was caused by her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the initial onset and etiology of the Veteran's OSA, as well as whether his PTSD has caused or aggravated his OSA. The Veteran is asked to provide records from prior service and post-service treatment for OSA.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. High blood pressure, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety neurosis, and PTSD), coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass, and colon cancer are all found to be related to service or presumptively due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to PTSD and denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected, and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to April 3, 2012 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type I due to obesity. The bilateral factor applied resulted in a total combined rating of 90 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions and exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for degenerative disease of the left shoulder, right shoulder disability, and heart disability is set at June 23, 2011. Service connection for a dental condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a left shoulder condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea. The AOJ is instructed to verify any additional periods of active duty service and obtain all available service treatment records, particularly those from the Veteran’s deployment in Afghanistan. An examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral plantar hyperkeratosis and low back disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to service.,A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted effective July 24, 2013.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to possible in-service occurrence and current impairment.,Service connection for a heart disability (presumed due to herbicide exposure) is granted as service-connected.