Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for low back condition, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to tinnitus), and carpal tunnel syndrome of bilateral upper extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and new lay testimony relating his disabilities to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no in-service injury or disease related to this condition and concluding that the current disability is not connected to active duty service.

The Veteran's skin disorder, CAD, sinus disorder, and vertigo are all remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, and a neurological condition. The Veteran's claims are pending further review.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is claimed to have caused his obstructive sleep apnea, but the VA examiner found it less likely than not that this was the case. The Board has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran’s sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty, including his deployment to Iraq in 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypoxia had its onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of evidence. The Veteran's sleep apnea is claimed as being related to service, specifically exposure to smoke pits in Iraq. The claim will be further developed with a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current back conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbosacral strain, is not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further review and clarification of the etiology of her condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The Veteran's fatigue is attributed to other conditions, including sleep apnea and anemia. Therefore, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployment due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence regarding her neurological impairment.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or secondary to PTSD and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for a respiratory condition, including sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, acne, and tension headaches as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome and has remanded the issues regarding sleep apnea and obesity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to her in-service stressors.,Service connection for alopecia is denied due to lack of current evidence and no causal link between the condition and service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea, left hip disability, right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis for further development. The Veteran's private treatment records from the Tri-Cities Sleep Center confirm a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. A VA medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of these disabilities. For the right knee and left hip disabilities, new VA examinations are required as well.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is granted as service-connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the service-connected PTSD.,Hypertension is granted as a direct result of service.