Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back, neck, knee, arthritis, and skin disabilities. The issues are being returned to obtain additional records and medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition is related to events during his military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis with history of left ankle sprain, hemorrhoids, and tinea pedis have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded due to inadequate previous VA opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is causally related to his active service and specifically due to his already service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and migraine headaches due to incomplete development as requested in a previous remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle, and specially adaptive housing due to missing VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to PTSD or otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea, acid reflux, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction for further development to determine if they are secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's low back condition, rated at 20 percent since March 8, 2017, is not considered disabling enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for left knee iliotibial band syndrome, thyroid condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, and spine disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The decisions on these issues are pending.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 15, 2018 for the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and has remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent from May 15, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder), right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right foot degenerative joint disease, and hypertension.,The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure for hearing loss or Agent Orange exposure for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records did not document Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a respiratory disorder (including COPD), and a psychiatric disability manifested by occasional nightmares are denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, low back condition, and right eye condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea had onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for rosacea, peripheral artery disease, right knee strain, left knee strain, commuter bowel syndrome (IBS), disabilities of the lumbar spine and thoracic segments of the spine, and a right hip disability. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that it did not begin during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that the disability was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to incomplete development.