Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently service-connected but the Board finds conflicting evidence and requires an updated VA medical opinion to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, CAD, or tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and whether it is related to his military service or aggravated by his TBI residuals.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for tinnitus, residuals of right-shoulder rotator cuff surgery, and left shoulder condition were granted. Claims for disorder manifested by sleep issues, hypertension, radiculopathy of the LLE, radiculopathy of the RLE, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis, as well as PTSD, are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection as it began during his military service and has persisted since then.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service incidents and exposure to asbestos, which may be associated with his current sleep apnea. The case is now for further adjudication.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective June 16, 2016. The rating for lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to her service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and mitral valve replacement due to a lack of VA examinations, and the need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for chronic lumbosacral back strain with arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, and DeQuervain's tenosynovitis of the left wrist are denied. The claim for total disability due to individual unemployability is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to May 8, 2014 for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea due to his untimely filing of a substantive appeal. The December 2011 rating decision denying entitlement to service connection is considered final.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active service and the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a violation of instructions, requiring additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by or made worse by his service-connected conditions, including exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The VA examiner’s opinion regarding these issues is inadequate and additional medical opinion is necessary.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right hip, and lumbar spine conditions as secondary to his service-connected left hip and left ankle disabilities. The evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of these findings.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection is remanded for pulmonary hypertension and lumbar spine disorder as there are insufficient opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disability and depression has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for TBI residuals, shell fragment wound scar, lung disability, and sleep apnea are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records. The claim for service connection is also remanded as the relationship between his disabilities and service needs further clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his already service-connected COPD.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate previous medical opinions.