Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has found that additional and relevant medical evidence was received into the record since the December 2018 Statements of the Case. As a result, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded two issues: the initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain and a combined disability rating from March 3, 2016. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to incomplete or conflicting medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as it was not shown to be related to service, and the medical evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear employment history and need for updated examinations of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The AOJ will obtain all relevant records, including VA treatment records and any emergency department visits, and schedule the Veteran for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptoms, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and various physical disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide more details about his stressors and any relevant medical records from SSA.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his exposure to herbicide agents, but a VA examiner will need to determine if it is aggravated by his prostate cancer or psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's need for the regular aid and attendance of another person was granted effective April 25, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for sleep apnea, eczema, and migraine headaches have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The AOJ will review this evidence in the first instance.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and feet defect for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right knee instability rating was reduced from 10% to 0%, effective December 1, 2015. The case is remanded for further review.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and TDIU due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including respiratory disability, sleep apnea, back disability, seizures, and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected costochondritis is granted an initial 10 percent rating. Service connection for sleep apnea and pneumothorax, decortication, hemothorax, and thoracotomy are both granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions and a TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain had its onset during active duty service and is related to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues with these claims.