Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and atrial flutter, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified medical professional regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA.

The Veteran's service connection claim for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted, as he has a current diagnosis of this condition related to his in-service stressors. The claim for sleep apnea is denied due to lack of evidence of the claimed disability at any time since filing the claim.,Service connection was not established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus because there is no evidence of these conditions during service and they are not linked to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding an in-service sleep study and a VA examination report that ruled out a relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and service.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted effective from April 29, 2013. The issues of service connection for low back disability and pes planus are reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to December 12, 2017 are not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The Board has remanded the issue of whether service connection can be established for his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service snoring and his current diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back condition is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 1, 2010 to present.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's back strain with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine is granted a 20 percent disability rating from July 23, 2018 to July 22, 2019. On and after July 23, 2019, he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy associated with his service-connected back strain.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred or caused by service, and the Board finds that it is less likely than not related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea and initial increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, and GERD have been dismissed as his appeal was withdrawn by a valid written request.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disability and chronic kidney disease have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to lumbar spine disability, hypertension as secondary to acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disabilities, but the claim for sleep apnea remains pending due to insufficient evidence addressing its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist, specifically regarding the medical opinions and consideration of aggravation by service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, and eye conditions. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability related to the claimed ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, or eye disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions and a need for further examination. The claims are related to exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan, mental strain from combat operations, and secondary service connection based on PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and sleep apnea due to new evidence that may affect their severity or etiology. The appellant will be afforded examinations to assess these conditions.