Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's skin cancer is remanded for further investigation into potential exposure to chemicals during service, including herbicide agents and chemical treatments of equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to February 2, 2015 and from that date. The case is now before the Board again.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for obstructive sleep apnea, as there were no in-service complaints or diagnoses of this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea).

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and granted a TDIU from August 9, 2010 to September 30, 2010. The appeal regarding the TDIU prior to August 9, 2010 is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,The claim for sleep apnea is being remanded as there was insufficient consideration of the Veteran’s in-service symptoms and post-deployment treatment history, along with his current testimony about gasping for air during sleep.,The claim for headaches is being remanded due to the lack of a clear opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are related to Gulf War service or an undiagnosed illness.,The claim for allergic rhinitis is being remanded because there was no examination addressing the potential link between the condition and Gulf War service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, sinusitis and rhinitis, but has remanded the claims of chronic bronchitis and reactive arthritis due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a mental health condition (depressive disorder) secondary to his lumbosacral strain have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of sleep problems since service, including loud snoring and interrupted breathing, which led to a diagnosis of moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, the Veteran's depressive disorder was related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80 percent, have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since December 9, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is directly related to his military service. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, vertigo, and sleep apnea has been granted. Service connection is established for hearing loss as it is found to be related to his period of active service. The claims for heart disorder/disease and vertigo are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran’s symptoms, while concerning, do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The issue of service connection for OSA is also remanded and will need further development.

The Veteran's MDD with anxiety was denied a higher rating prior to June 11, 2020 due to the severity of her symptoms not meeting the criteria for a 50% rating.,Since June 11, 2020, her MDD with anxiety has been remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea and insomnia. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate rationale in the VA medical opinion provided prior to the December 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service, but there are concerns about the reliability of the evidence and need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to her active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for atrial fibrillation and remanded the claims of COPD and OSA due to exposure to asbestos. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service exposures are considered, but his current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to an error in the May 2019 rating decision and new evidence added after that decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has continuously had symptoms of tinnitus since service and resolves all reasonable doubt in his favor.