Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's eating disorder prior to December 26, 2019 and denied a higher than 30 percent rating since that date.

The Board has determined that the reduction of ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper, and has restored the original 20 percent ratings. The issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral spine disability and bilateral sciatic neuropathy are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service. The VA examiner did not consider all relevant factors, including the Veteran's history of obesity during service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, kidney disorder, and sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection is granted for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy/carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection and rating issues related to various conditions, including traumatic brain injury, hip conditions, spine condition, sleep disorder, hysterectomy, hemorrhoids, and obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected OSA is granted, and his initial rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 10 percent. His PTSD claim results in a grant of service connection but no increased rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence has been received since the July 2015 RO denial. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on the issue of whether his obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service, specifically an in-service head injury or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The PTSD is linked to the Veteran's fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during his service. OSA was found to be related to his deployment in the Middle East, with no direct evidence linking it to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and sleep apnea have been reopened, with the former being granted.,Service connection is denied for hypertension, non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (stroke), and right wrist condition.

The Board has determined that the current record lacks sufficient evidence to adjudicate the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim and requires an additional medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. The Veteran must be properly notified and another examination should be conducted.

The Veteran's low back disability, including myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, has been rated at 20 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or nearly approach criteria for ankylosis or limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations, missing VA treatment records, and new evidence not being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The Veteran died from a brain tumor, but without known pathology of the brain mass, no definite determination can be made on whether the brain mass was related to military service or metastasized from his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea.,PTSD and other specified depressive disorder are rated at 70%.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the right hand, left hand, and ankles have been granted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, its relationship to service-connected conditions, and whether it is aggravated by those conditions.