Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus has been reopened due to new evidence. The claims for diabetic neuropathy and sleep apnea with COPD are being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically obesity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and a skin disability. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, skin cancer, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in the July 2014 VA examination.

The Veteran's OSA and CHF are granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is granted at a 30% evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate efforts by VA in obtaining the Veteran's service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide more information about his sleep apnea diagnosis and any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied others. The Veteran's PTSD with insomnia, depression, tinnitus, low back disability, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are now granted. However, his hypertension, bilateral foot disabilities, sleep apnea, right and left upper and lower extremity neuropathies, and heart disability remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is denied.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as it is not related to the service-connected lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral idiopathic neuropathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD, headaches, and sleep apnea are all found to be related to his service. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.,Service connection is established for PTSD, headaches, and sleep apnea.

The Board has revised the December 12, 1996 rating decision to grant service connection for thoracic and lumbosacral spine disabilities effective October 10, 1996. The claim was reopened due to new evidence provided in 1996.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and rectal bleeding due to incomplete development. The AOJ must ensure that any new examination reports comply with previous remand directives, then readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for sleep apnea with bronchitis and persistent cough is granted at 100 percent. The Veteran also receives special monthly compensation (SMC) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, type II, asthma, sleep apnea and heart disability is remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The low back disability claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, lumbosacral strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptoms since service were found to be less credible due to inconsistencies with medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for numbness and pain in the left upper extremity was granted. However, her appeals for other conditions were dismissed.,Service connection for OSA and low back disability were denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his claims for service connection and increased ratings, including those related to low back disorder, neck disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, residual scar on forehead, and a temporary total rating based on convalescence for a back surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new theories of entitlement raised by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The case is remanded for additional development.,Service connection for a pulmonary disability and sleep apnea are both remanded due to incomplete development of the claims.,Service connection for sleep apnea, which may be secondary to service-connected PTSD, is also remanded.