Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's specific phobia could have aggravated his OSA beyond natural progression. The claim will be readjudicated after obtaining an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral restless leg syndrome due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between current disabilities and military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for sleep apnea under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and granted secondary service connection for a headache disorder (tension headaches).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of maxillofacial surgery and sleep apnea due to potential issues with the medical opinions provided. The Veteran is presumed sound at entry, so direct service connection will be considered.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but further development is needed to address its merits due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's military records and unverified stressors. The claims for Alzheimer’s dementia and neurosarcoidosis are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for vertigo, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and a left wrist disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of a disability under VA guidelines.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic kidney disability, with a focus on whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's OSA, ED, and Dry Eye Syndrome have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, effective dates, and TDIU due to additional submitted evidence. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his request for a new examination. The Veteran will need to provide missing supporting statements for his sleep apnea claim, undergo an examination for restless leg syndrome, and have a VA examination for bilateral knee strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his gastrointestinal and lumbosacral spine disorders, which are related to his service-connected staphylococcus infection and/or prostatitis.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating as he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of gunshot wound to the left arm, sleep apnea, and dementia due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during his military service or were related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, granted effective dates of April 25, 2011 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for PTSD prior to February 24, 2015.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's back disability as there is no probative evidence linking it to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased initial rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to outstanding VA examinations not being conducted.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease (DDD) associated with right total knee replacement and the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to inadequate development of evidence regarding functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue to reopen his previously denied claim for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis was dismissed.,His initial rating for chronic sinusitis with headaches remains at 50 percent, as he is already in receipt of the maximum available rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for COPD due to inadequate examination and lack of supporting rationale.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is rated at 70 percent, migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to May 25, 2016 and 10 percent after that date. The Veteran also receives a grant for total unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea are remanded due to missing service medical records. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding treatment records and in-service records. A VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of these disabilities.