Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for breathing problems (COPD, emphysema, asthma, atelectasis, lung nodule, deviated septum, nasal polyps, sinusitis) and increased disability rating for recurrent pneumothorax.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder and knee conditions, gout, vertigo, sleep apnea, and shrapnel wounds. The case is being remanded to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) and other conditions are denied. The Board has remanded for further review of the remaining issues.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to specific dates are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis and patellar spurring of the right knee, as well as obstructive sleep apnea, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of medical opinion regarding her sleep disorder and Gulf War Syndrome symptoms.

The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU prior to April 23, 2019. The claim for service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is remanded due to inadequate opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since April 6, 2020. The hearing loss and perforated eardrum claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus requires another remand to address the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to failure to provide necessary correspondence at the correct address.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for psychiatric disability, right shoulder and knee disabilities, sleep apnea, hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, request VA examination reports, and adjudicate TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.,An effective date prior to January 2, 2016, is denied for all awards of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay history. The examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s symptoms indicated the onset of OSA, nor did they consider the impact of obesity on his condition.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and cardiomyopathy, finding that the conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is either caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and noting the passage of time between her discharge from active duty and diagnosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle condition due to lack of evidence linking his current strain to his in-service injury.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, insomnia, and OSA. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis due to a lack of proper notification regarding scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is required to be notified of the location, date, and time of any future examinations.