Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for residuals of left ankle sprain, sleep apnea, left hand pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae/tinea versicolor have all been denied as there is no current diagnosis or service connection established.

The Board has denied service connection for a hernia condition and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an etiological opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence linking OSA to these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded several other issues for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral eye disability, thyroid disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are not decided at this time.

The Veteran's right chronic anterior talofibular ligament injury is granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran also receives a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of his current symptoms. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for psoriasis remains under review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were not related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms.,PTSD was denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors. Sleep apnea was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability that began during service.,Low back disorder and right-sided sciatica were not related to service, as there are no records indicating an in-service injury or chronic symptoms after separation.,Right ankle disorder was also not related to service, with the absence of any documented injuries or relevant symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical strain, finding that there was no medical evidence to support a nexus between her current back condition and her active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claim for a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and chest pain to include a heart condition due to potential issues with causation or aggravation by service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, and heart disease as there is no evidence showing a causal relationship between the conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is now rated at 40 percent. The Board has also remanded for further action regarding TDIU prior to January 30, 2018.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral upper and lower extremity nerve disorder or sleep apnea related to her military service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during active duty service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability, including from medications for such disability. Additional VA medical opinion is needed.