Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, right knee, right ankle chronic lateral collateral ligament sprain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis, service connection for sleep apnea and low back disorder, and service connection for a left knee disorder. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and medical opinions are obtained.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and its related peripheral neuropathies as well as high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea, all of which were claimed to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings is remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation of his lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disabilities, and scarring. The goal is to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and external hemorrhoids were granted service connection, with the effective date for the increased rating of external hemorrhoids set at January 12, 2017.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a new VA opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his service.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including those related to syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, hypertension, headaches, and other conditions. The issues are all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spinal stenosis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current disability is found to have begun during active service, with credible lay statements supporting his contention.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions on several service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been reopened.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea have also been reopened.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, and therefore service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or any service-connected disability. The Veteran will need to provide additional records and a VA examiner will be needed to offer an opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for sleep apnea service connection is denied as the earliest application was submitted on January 9, 2017.

The Veteran's initial rating for L2 compression fracture with lumbosacral strain was denied, and his increased rating for cervical spine degenerative arthritis prior to May 14, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was granted.

The Veteran's short-term memory loss disability, personality disorder, bilateral eye disability, tremors disability, and sleep disability are all granted as service-connected. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a personality disorder or any other specific condition that would warrant service connection.

The Board vacated its March 31, 2020 decision due to jurisdictional issues and returned the case for further development. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for ED, hypertension, and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for right knee disability, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and diverticulosis due to their potential connection with service-connected conditions or other relevant factors.