Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and TDIU prior to February 14, 2016 due to inadequate medical examination and lack of retrospective opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service or secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, and other conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification. The effective dates for some of his service-connected disabilities remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected hypertension and PTSD, as well as if it is aggravated by these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not show that it was incurred or aggravated by service, and there was no indication of an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, its relationship to service-connected cephalgia and obesity, and exposure to toxic materials in Qatar. The Veteran will need additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to service or caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that his OSA is not related to his service, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board also found that obesity, which caused his OSA, was not proximately due or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's current 50 percent rating for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is denied as the disability does not more nearly approximate chronic respiratory failure or require a tracheostomy.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea disability, including as secondary to PTSD, due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder should be remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous remands and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's military service and is not proximately due to, or aggravated by, a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion that would warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's skin conditions were found to be less likely related to service or an undiagnosed illness, and thus denial of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there is not a relationship between the Veteran’s PTSD and his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability from November 13, 2018 onward is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Board also found insufficient medical nexus to support a secondary service connection claim.,There is no direct evidence linking the current hypertension and sleep apnea to service, nor sufficient medical opinion supporting their onset as being related to the Veteran's service-connected CAD.