Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.,VA has granted the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional examination. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again, with an emphasis on addressing lay statements and the relationship between service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his current diagnosis of sleep apnea had its onset during active service, thus granting the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is granted, with the condition that it be remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his OSA.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, nasal fracture residuals, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headache, sinus disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The Board also remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for herpes simplex.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 14, 2015 for Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) is denied as there is no evidence of a claim or entitlement prior to that date.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied because the Veteran did not have tinnitus during service and it is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, sleep apnea, residuals of jaw fracture, and persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress (depression) due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and OSA due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, OSA, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional VA treatment records, schedule examinations for PTSD, migraine and mixed muscle contraction type headaches, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, and radiculopathy, and to provide an examination regarding the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions and for obtaining additional treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been expanded to include both direct and secondary theories. The Board finds the current VA examination inadequate and remands the case for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA treatment records and service personnel records, as well as for additional clarification on the causation and aggravation aspects of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of hearing loss due to new evidence being added to his file. The issues include peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral metatarsalgia (claimed as bilateral pes planus). The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's current hearing loss in both ears was not confirmed by the VA examiner, and a new opinion must be obtained addressing these concerns.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and sleep apnea were granted. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied as the evidence did not establish that it began during his active military service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a 40% rating effective November 29, 2017. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome and paravertebral muscular strain.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and found that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and obstructive sleep apnea was not established, as there is no probative medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.