Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and left knee based on range of motion. The appeal is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issues of service connection for glaucoma and sleep apnea. The Veteran's COPD claim is not supported by evidence showing a current disability, while his claims for glaucoma and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent from July 23, 2018 to the present. The Board has remanded this issue for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to unclear periods of active duty and reserve service. The AOJ needs to clarify the dates and type of service, obtain complete military personnel records, and verify ACDUTRA, INACDUTRA, and other types of reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, back disability, and bilateral flatfoot due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular rating, and his avitaminosis and chronic fatigue syndrome claims are denied. The Board finds that a remand is necessary for further examination regarding his degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's service connection claims for fibromyalgia, avitaminosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome are denied. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for lung cancer, which is now in effect. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal. DIC benefits have been granted based on the Veteran's cause of death being related to his service-connected lung cancer.

The Veteran's increased rating and initial disability ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, acute stress disorder and major depressive disorder), and an upper respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis). The claim of service connection for vertigo is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain with radiculopathy, degenerative arthritis of the spine with spondylosis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection on secondary basis is remanded due to failure to comply with previous remand directives. The AOJ must obtain updated VA and private treatment records, reschedule missed VA examinations, and provide a VA examination if deemed necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's obesity was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea due to Camp LeJeune exposure are remanded. The claim for increased ratings for traumatic brain injury with depression and tension headaches is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for central sleep apnea as a residual of TBI is granted. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TBI are reopened.