Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that obesity did not serve as an intermediate step in causing his OSA.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective from April 24, 2009. The rating for lumbosacral strain with residuals remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis is not related to his active military service due to lack of evidence of a nexus between his first period of service and his current condition.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted as service-connected on both a direct and secondary basis due to its onset during active service or being proximately due to his obesity, which is linked to his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (claimed as hypertensive heart disease), tinea pedis of the right foot, tinea pedis of the left foot, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to GERD/gastritis), a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD/gastritis, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a left lower extremity disability as secondary to sarcoidosis and a right lower extremity disability as secondary to sarcoidosis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and sarcoid arthropathy of the low back.,An effective date earlier than April 17, 2012, for the grant of service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient analysis of certain issues. The Veteran's complete service treatment records, specifically his Reserve unit and active duty period from October 2007 to January 2009, need to be obtained.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current chronic low back disability is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and now requires a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right shoulder tendinitis, left shoulder tendinitis, and lumbosacral strain have been remanded for further examination to determine their etiology and severity.

The Veteran's sleep apnea disorder, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis.,A VA examination is needed for the Veteran's claim of eye disorder other than diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the claim for a low back disorder, finding that there are insufficient opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms during service have been considered.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis, but the claims for supraventricular arrhythmia and COPD remain pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient examination opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current, separately identifiable diagnosis of a sleep disorder and has denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during active duty are related to his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted a disability rating of 30 percent, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The right ankle sprain and gastrointestinal disability (Barret’s Esophagus, stomach indigestion, and GERD) have been granted service connection. Service connection for sleep apnea has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence due to lack of evidence associating these conditions with his period of active service.