Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss due to the claimant's death.

The Board denied service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine as they are not attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report, and requested an updated medical opinion that includes information on flare-ups and joint testing.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to attend scheduled VA examinations. The Board will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to appear for these examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, chloracne, tinea pedis, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities due to incomplete development and lack of evidence regarding in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and has also granted the underlying service connection claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is linked to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for sleep apnea, insomnia, amputation of right leg, surgical scarring, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder (claimed as panic attacks and stress), diabetes, hypertension, circulatory disorder/left big toe, and erectile dysfunction.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions throughout the pendency of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as secondary to a psychiatric disability. Ratings were denied for various left elbow and wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The right lower extremity neurological condition and ulcerative colitis with reflux and anemia, aphthous sigmoid ulcers, and nodular mucosa are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's deviated septum is not rated higher than the current 10% assigned. The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hip degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to exposure in Southwest Asia. The claims are being returned for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on whether the conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals of higher initial ratings for lumbosacral strain and intermittent supraventricular tachycardia with left ventricular hypertrophy, as the Veteran only wanted to pursue an appeal of the hypertension rating. The Board granted a 10 percent initial rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear has been granted. Service connection is also granted for OSA, cervicogenic headaches, and cervical spine disability.,Service connection is granted for erectile dysfunction (ED), hypertension, a disability manifested by loss of balance secondary to cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, thyroid disorder, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of a higher rating for bilateral heel spurs with plantar fasciitis.

Service connection is granted for right ear hearing loss and unstable angina due to herbicide exposure. Service connection is remanded for hypertension, bilateral eye condition, and bilateral lung condition.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending as it may impact the determination of his bilateral eye condition and lung condition claims.,,,,