Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions were denied. The Board found no current disabilities for the claimed right thigh, hip, PFB, flank, CFS, sleep apnea, and hypertension disorders.

Service connection for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of evidence. The Veteran's application to reopen this claim is granted.,Service connection for schizoaffective disorder was reopened and granted based on new evidence showing a link between service and the condition.,Service connection for skin disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for OSA is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbar spine disability have been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the applications remain denied. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's coronary artery disease remains rated at 60% and hypertension at 10%. These ratings are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his secondary service connection theory.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including generalized fatigue, hypertension, hypogonadism, pituitary microadenoma, and a head tumor (presumed to be pituitary microadenoma) and sleep apnea. The claims were not granted on a presumptive basis due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for blood clots in both legs, bilateral knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with VA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no competent evidence of a current disability and noting that the Veteran did not describe symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between any possible manifestations of sleep apnea and his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his condition did not begin in service and is not etiologically related to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with OSA after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hearing loss of the left ear, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for cervical spine condition. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for thyroid cancer, sleep apnea, arthritis, and a prostate condition is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and cause of the Veteran's sleep apnea, as well as his heart condition. The VA will need to obtain additional records and schedule the Veteran for medical examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, including a lack of review of the service treatment records and private medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and rating determinations. The additional VA treatment records need to be considered in the readjudication process.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and occipital neuralgia. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of records and an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine status post-operative diskectomy and fusion, L5-S1 was denied. The rating assigned prior to December 12, 2018, is 10 percent, and after that date is 20 percent.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not shown in service, nor is it otherwise related to service.,The Veteran’s hypertension was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran’s congestive heart failure was not shown in service or within the applicable presumptive period, nor is it otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in February 2017 are inadequate and remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions to determine if his low back disability and sleep apnea are related to service or secondary to other conditions.