Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and headaches are all granted. The Board found that the Veteran's BHL disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing is remanded due to pre-decisional errors and the need for further evaluation by a VRC considering his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant records and providing adequate opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, sleep apnea, gastritis and IBS, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are mixed. Service connection is granted for sleep apnea but denied for basal cell carcinoma, gastritis and IBS, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity and sleep apnea, with obesity as an intermediary step, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that his condition is not related to his time in active duty.

The Veteran's OSA is granted with a 50% rating, effective August 7, 2017. The PTSD claim for increased rating is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected GERD, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support this determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected TBI. The cases are being returned for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision finds that the current severity of the PTSD warrants by proximity a relationship with the OSA.

The Veteran contends that his current psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is related to service. The Board finds evidence has been submitted which supports that the Veteran’s sleep apnea may have had its onset during service.,The Veteran also contends that he has insomnia, a back disorder, sciatic nerve pain, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder all related to service. He was exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted a 20 percent rating effective February 22, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for bone mineral density loss to include osteopenia as secondary to hypercalciuria, and has remanded the issues of service connection for lung/pulmonary calcified nodules, calcified lymph node in the neck, dysphonia (calcium disabilities in throat), liver cysts, and sleep apnea all as secondary to hypercalciuria.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and paraplegia secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective May 9, 2019, due to his service-connected right knee disability and sleep apnea. The combined rating at the time of the grant of TDIU was 80 percent.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6847.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is rated at 30 percent and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is rated at 40 percent and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain, service connection for fibroids, and hypertension are remanded.,An effective date prior to September 30, 2013, for the increase in ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and headaches is denied.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine DDD.,Service connection for residuals of a head injury, including TBI, is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,An effective date earlier than August 24, 2016, for the grant of service connection for headaches is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various disabilities. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 40 percent, but the issue of a higher rating is denied.