Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms are related to his active duty service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service-connected polyarteritis nodosa of the left and right lower extremity is rated at 60 percent, effective June 9, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and potential new evidence from a June 2019 VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea should be remanded for further development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of lay statements and the need for a new VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA examination(s) to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before appellate review for the issues of entitlement to service connection for various cardiovascular conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder (claimed asthma), urinary disorder, and low back disorder. These matters are REMANDED.,The Veteran's claims for severance of service connection for dyshidrotic eczema were also remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea disability began in military service or was caused by some event or experience in service. Therefore, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to January 15, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for lumbosacral strain. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea began in service or is related to his active duty. The Veteran had a hospitalization for pulmonary edema and respiratory failure during dental surgery in April 1996, which he contends contributed to his current sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea disability. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information about his in-service symptoms and treatment, and a new VA examination must be conducted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities, as there was insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions were related to service or any other condition.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to new evidence showing these disabilities may be related to active service. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, and bladder cancer to determine their relationship to service, including presumed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for sleep apnea and rectal bleeding due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear disability, nasal disability (deviated septum), and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea was reopened as new and material evidence was received.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board also remanded the issue of whether residuals of traumatic brain injury are related to in-service injury, event, or disease; or whether they are at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated beyond the natural progression by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran testified about injuries during active duty, and VA treatment records show current symptoms of both conditions. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability but has remanded the claim for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities.