Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no link between his current OSA and his active service or other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA sleep apnea examination and the need to address a new theory of entitlement as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her service, including shift work as a Military Police and reported snoring and stoppage of breathing in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle degenerative joint disease, right hip replacement, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), painful surgical scar due to hip replacement, lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's skin condition is not related to active service and is attributed to a known clinical diagnosis.,Headaches are less likely caused by an in-service head injury and are not due to exposure event during Southwest Asia service.,Chronic fatigue syndrome is more likely related to other conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and mood disorder rather than chronic fatigue syndrome.,Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities have no current diagnosis or etiology provided by the VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for both obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection for sleep apnea with bronchitis and eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for OSA, finding no evidence of a pending formal or informal claim prior to March 15, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his sleep apnea, and therefore grants service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination report. The examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s sleep apnea, including whether it began during service or is related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hay fever and sleep apnea, finding that a VA examination was not adequately scheduled.,The appellant's lay statements regarding his allergy symptoms during ACDUTRA were considered by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for sleep apnea during her military service and concluding that her current sleep apnea is not related to her in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right hip limitation of adduction, and left hip limitation of adduction effective June 12, 2018. The effective date is set at February 9, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for osteoarthritis of the right knee with medial meniscal tear, instability of the left knee, and arthritis of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain and lumbosacral strain have been evaluated, with the left ankle sprain receiving a 10% rating. The lumbosacral strain received a temporary 20% rating prior to January 4, 2016, but no higher ratings are granted due to lack of marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the onset and causation of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder is being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the aggravation aspect of secondary service connection.