Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not result from disease or injury incurred in service and was not caused by or aggravated by service-connected cardiac disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, also claimed as reversible airway disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link to his military service or any in-service event.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and denied service connection for left arm disability, prostate disability, and left-hand skin disability. The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. His left arm disability, prostate disability, and left-hand skin disability are not found to have onset during service or otherwise related to such service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions cause or aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left ear scar and cystic acne of the face and head prior to February 3, 2013 are also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral knee condition, right shoulder condition, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability, limited his capacity for activity and sitting sufficiently to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 29, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and lung disease due to asbestos exposure, as there may be outstanding Social Security Administration records that need to be obtained.

The Board has granted a TDIU, but the Veteran's neck disability and PTSD issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and granted it. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and left ear hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 27, 2010 to December 18, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period. For the other issues, the VA remanded them for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including knee disorders and numbness due to undiagnosed illness or other causes, have been remanded by the Board. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about evaluating existing disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for insomnia disorder and service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the current symptoms did not warrant an increased rating, and there is no evidence to support service connection for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, with a 50% rating assigned for sinusitis.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 7, 2018 to April 29, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's asthma with OSA is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to the severity of his overall disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, including on an undiagnosed illness basis, was denied as the evidence did not show a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for additional examinations. The issues include gastric ulcers, gastritis with focal mucosal erosions and foveal hyperplasia, sliding hiatal hernia, esophageal varices, and liver condition with portal hypertensive gastropathy, all secondary to medication used for service-connected knee and back conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as being proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).