Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and lack of consideration of secondary service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's wife provided a lay statement indicating her husband had severe snoring, stopped breathing in his sleep, and woke up during the night.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those related to polycystic ovary syndrome, right arm disability, right elbow bursitis, chronic otitis externa, duodenal ulcers, and other conditions. The Veteran is also required to submit a completed application for increased compensation based on unemployability (VA Form 21-8940).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a sleep disability, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. The decision found that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being incurred during or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his active service and OSA. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for obstructive sleep apnea are denied prior to May 2, 2013 and from May 2, 2013 onwards. The Veteran is currently rated at 50% for his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective August 2, 2019. The claim for increased rating remains denied as there is no evidence of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbosacral strain. Additional evidence is needed from private providers and VA records are to be obtained. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the examiner did not provide a link between service and symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis A is denied as there is no current disability related to the in-service diagnosis of hepatitis A.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and OCD is also remanded, as there was no stressor reported previously.

The Board has determined that the additional evidentiary development directed in previous remands for service connection claims and TDIU has not been completed. Therefore, another remand is necessary to substantially comply with the Board's directives.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for weight gain, recurring back pain, sleep apnea to include fatigue, parasomnias (including sleepwalking), and nephrolithiasis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.