Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, sinus, and sleep apnea conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's statements about his symptoms are considered credible.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including headaches, kidney disability, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for headaches, his claim of service connection for a kidney disability remains pending, he must provide new evidence to reopen his previously denied claim, he needs to establish service connection for anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Board will review the claims again after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and initial disability ratings for right and left knee strains are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for updated treatment records and more current VA examinations.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have sleep apnea and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain status post decompressive laminectomy (back disability) effective October 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, cystic kidney disease, keratoconjunctivitis, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and his GERD rating is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and sleep apnea prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence linking current psychiatric or sleep conditions to service.

The Veteran's skin conditions, respiratory issues (including sleep apnea), and gastrointestinal disorders other than irritable bowel syndrome are not service-connected.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for kidney failure has been granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran’s claim, which is raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 7305. The Board has determined that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are primarily continuous abdominal pain.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for OSA, hypertension, and headaches have been withdrawn. The claims of higher disability ratings for bilateral knee instability, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, OSA, hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia, hypertension, fatigue, and joint pain were denied as they are not service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and asthma as they have not been evaluated in over four years, and there is evidence of worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is needed.

Service connection is granted for hypertension, and the case is remanded for further evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) need to be verified, and additional opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the sleep apnea.