Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate prior VA examinations and further examination is needed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, and sleep apnea syndrome as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided that service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss is denied. The decision is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or chronic pain associated with his service-connected orthopedic disorders. The decision also grants the reopening of the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral shin splints has been granted, and the Board finds that his current condition is related to service. The claims for right shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), left shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), memory loss, chronic fatigue, sleep apnea with CPAP, insomnia, right knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition), and left knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition) have been remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to service. The claims for right shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), left shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), memory loss, chronic fatigue, sleep apnea with CPAP, insomnia, right knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition), and left knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition) have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his condition did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, which was secondary to a service-connected disability of residuals from left leg injury with skin graft donor sites, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches and PTSD. The examiner should provide a new opinion on this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder. The Board also found that hypertension and diabetes are secondary to his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder or left knee disability, but additional evidence is needed for a final determination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected IVDS is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and depression are remanded as they may be related to or aggravated by his service-connected IVDS. A VA examination will be conducted to determine this relationship.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and plantar fasciitis are remanded as they may be related to his service-connected IVDS. A VA examination will be conducted to determine this relationship.

The appeal for service connection for a spinal cord lesion and bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for hypertension and heart disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for hyperreflexia has been reopened.,The appeals for service connection for back disability, heart disability (presumably ischemic heart disease), and hyperreflexia are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete medical records. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, deviated septum, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, neck disability, and low back disability are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and sleep apnea have been granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has decided to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for TBI. The case is now pending with a request for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, and hypertension have been denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further clarification and evaluation due to the presence of multiple service-connected disabilities, including shoulder, bilateral knee, and low back disorders. The focus is on whether these conditions cause obesity, which may then affect the Veteran's sleep apnea or narcolepsy.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma has been granted a 60% rating, effective as of the date of this decision. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to his bronchial asthma is remanded. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and records from SSA.