Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected pansinusitis and polypectomies. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbosacral strain disability is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his chronic pulmonary condition with obstructive sleep apnea and restrictive and obstructive lung disease, major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension due to insufficient opinions in the record regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and sleep apnea, both claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD due to potential secondary relationships with his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any in-service exposure.,The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus related injury, event, or disease in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with service connection for sleep apnea and Barrett's esophagus, which are inextricably intertwined. The Veteran is asked to provide medical records and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to paranoid schizophrenia with depressive disorder and a compensable initial rating for flat feet due to insufficient evidence regarding causation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, stomach disability, and dizziness. The decision found that while the Veteran has current disabilities related to his anxiety disorder, there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions directly to his military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The VA medical opinion is insufficient and requires further clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability to include arthritis, left ankle strain, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's migraine disability and sleep apnea are found to be proximately due to his service-connected sinusitis.,Service connection is granted for a migraine disability, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, insomnia, rib dislocation disability, postherpetic neuralgia, left shoulder disability, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Achilles heel spur of the left foot, cardiovascular disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, and residuals of hernia surgery are all denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the effective date for the current ratings remains April 26, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, finding that his acne rosacea was not incurred in or related to active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ADD, PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, primary insomnia, left knee strain, left shin splint, right knee strain, and right shin splint are all denied. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.