Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, GERD, chest pain secondary to GERD, and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's tinnitus. The Board found that while there was no specific diagnosis of tinnitus in his records, he provided credible testimony regarding its occurrence during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection claims are addressed.

The claim to reopen the service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposures and his current condition, as well as the relationship between his PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine condition, and a right foot condition due to secondary service-connected conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for low back disability. However, both issues of service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected insomnia, has been remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether the sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by the insomnia.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it raises a secondary theory of entitlement based on his PTSD and type II diabetes mellitus. Additional development is needed to address these theories.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied earlier effective dates for bilateral pes planus and PTSD.,Service connection was established for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition and sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other two issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a current disability. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as the VA examiner's opinion was not compliant with the October 2019 remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions and a need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue is now remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder have been rated, but his OSA remains unaddressed.,His service-connected disabilities are causing him to be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically hypertension and hypertensive heart disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for tinea pedis of both feet, sleep apnea, and lumbar strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits due to his not having a serious employment handicap and his eligibility period ending on August 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for left shin splints was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for hip pain, stress fracture of mid-right tibia, and obstructive sleep apnea (fatigue) were all denied as the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for left shin splints was reopened but still denied.