Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic neuropathic pain, right groin, was denied. The Board found that the current disability picture did not warrant an increased rating.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for a back disability. Service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had its initial onset during active service and granted service connection for OSA.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a secondary opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic brain injury residuals and/or tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection was denied because there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-existing lumbar spine condition in service, and the VA examiner found no permanent aggravation during service.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to service-connected pes planus, needs additional development and is therefore remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and asthma, finding no nexus to military service or environmental exposures.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and sleep apnea due to incomplete records. The Veteran needs to provide VA with all treatment records from VA facilities where he was treated during the appellate period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for breathing disability, right shoulder condition, sleep apnea, headaches, and PTSD due to incomplete examinations and conflicting evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to assess his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, but dismissed the claim for TDIU. The right shoulder injury issue is being remanded.,While the Veteran's current conditions are not presumed or secondary to a condition incurred in service, the evidence supports that his symptoms of sleep apnea began during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by or caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, service connection for OSA, and TDIU due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's contention that anxiety symptoms from his PTSD preclude him from using a CPAP device, which in turn aggravates his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and right eye disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are also considered in relation to his sleep apnea claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current disability is not related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for acne, a noncompensable rating for pulmonary embolism (also diagnosed as sleep apnea) from May 29, 2014 to November 22, 2015, and a 30 percent rating thereafter is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, epidermal inclusion cyst of the vulva, endometriosis, benign neoplasms of the breast (claimed as bilateral breast pain), and skin infection of the legs and buttocks are all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received after a previous denial. The left wrist disorder claim is being reviewed on a de novo basis, and the sleep apnea claim requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, including as secondary to PTSD, or due to a deviated nasal septum. The examiner must provide an opinion on the etiology of the OSA.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and depression was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, resulting in a denial. The OSA and hypertension claims were remanded due to inadequate development.