Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective date earlier than February 20, 2008 for the award of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD), and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic headache disorder is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus of the left ear with pain, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, headaches, chest muscle pain, bilateral vision problems, and sleep apnea. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spondylosis and a heart condition, to include as secondary to herbicide agent exposure, are remanded. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left upper extremity carpal tunnel is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and left internal carotid occlusive disease have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted as service connected, but the Board finds that more evidence is needed to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his hip, knee, and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA examinations and additional evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a right eye injury, sleep apnea, a disorder manifested by vertigo and dizziness, cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service, including environmental exposures during deployment in the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in obtaining VA treatment records and considering certain factors related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain and lumbar degenerative disc disease was restored to a 40 percent rating effective August 2, 2016. The RO also granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, and whether his unit conducted short deployments into Vietnam or Thailand. The case is being remanded for further investigation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The compensable ratings for loss of teeth 8, 9, and 10 and status post fracture maxillary alveolus are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no legal basis for a separate compensable rating for his obstructive sleep apnea, given the clear and specific VA regulations pertaining to the evaluation of coexisting respiratory conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for chlamydia and granted a 50 percent rating for migraines beginning October 11, 2019. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.