Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for lung disability, headaches, sleep apnea, hypertension, and esophagus disability due to incomplete search efforts for service medical records. The Veteran is required to provide additional information or evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and low back disorder for additional VA medical opinions. The decision on initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there is no evidence that OSA began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of the evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy and DDD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 24, 2009 for the award of a 40 percent rating for service-connected low back strain with lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during her active service and is granted as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no causal relationship between his active duty service or a service-connected condition and his current sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD or other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to a service-connected disability, due to inadequate VA examination and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been remanded. The initial rating of 70% for PTSD with depressive disorder prior to January 10, 2019 is granted. However, a higher rating than 70% after that date is denied. A TDIU since March 21, 2016 is granted.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for sleep apnea as it was granted in a prior rating decision, and thus there is no longer a justiciable case or controversy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and left wrist have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection has also been denied for a low back disability, with the rating assigned being less than what the Veteran requested.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and right leg circulation problems were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, high blood pressure/hypertension, and heart attack/CAD were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence received.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded for additional development as the current VA examination is inadequate to rate these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected heart disorder due to insufficient opinions in the August 2018 VA examination reports. The Veteran is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing direct service connection and aggravation of his conditions by medications taken for his service-connected heart disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for award of TDIU and preclude substantially gainful employment, effective July 24, 2008. The Board finds that the entitlement to a TDIU is warranted for the period beginning July 24, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case of diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.