Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral ingrown toenails, left and right thumb stenosing tenosynovitis, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, and obstructive sleep apnea are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a higher rating for his right carpal tunnel syndrome from January 30, 2019, and the issue of service connection for headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's headaches were granted a 50% disability rating effective September 28, 2017. However, his TDIU claim was denied as he is not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, duodenal ulcer, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have all been denied. The effective date of the awards is April 23, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, ischemic heart disease, and various gunshot wound residuals, have resulted in loss of use of the lower extremities. The Board has granted specially adapted housing for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea initially manifested during his first period of active duty, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, but needs further evidence and a medical opinion to make a determination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his OSA was incurred in or caused by service, specifically due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty and is unrelated to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, cervical spine strain and thoracic spine strain. The decision is based on the opinion of a private provider and the testimony of the Veteran's wife.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is not related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected asthma and/or sinusitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to service-connected disorders, but more information is needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection is granted for a lower-gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome).,Service connection is denied for sleep issues and disturbances (insomnia/dyssomnia, sleep apnea).,Service connection is denied for acne.,Service connection is denied for keloid scars.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and an examination to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disabilities, including esophageal ulceration, and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's respiratory condition, including sleep apnea, is related to his service. The VA examiner must consider the June 2003 post deployment health assessment and determine if the Veteran’s symptoms are attributable to a known clinical diagnosis or a presumptive environmental exposure.

The Veteran is granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective January 29, 2010. The effective date for the TDIU prior to February 8, 2012 was not established as it did not precede the filing of the claim by a year.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected PTSD, as well as the relationship between his obesity and his sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and hepatitis C for further development, including obtaining private medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the record would benefit from a VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in weight gain that caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.