Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted service connection. The remaining issues of COPD, diabetes, hypertension, left hip condition, right hip condition, and right knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their impact on his upper and lower extremities, as they do not result in loss of use of both upper or lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for tinnitus and urethral stricture. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, sleep apnea, and chest pains due to additional evidentiary development being necessary. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including pancreatic disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, low back disorder, bilateral hand and knee disorders, antiphospholipid syndrome, fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to November 16, 2014 and from November 16, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, deviated nasal septum, and bilateral knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted. The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating in excess of 20 percent disabling for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine and service connection for a cervical spine condition are dismissed.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that these conditions are not related to service.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (claimed as sleep condition) and headaches have been granted as secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, did not reopen the claims for atrial fibrillation and CMT neuropathy due to lack of new and material evidence, and found that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records for spinal fusion, L-5 to sacrum with transitional lumbosacral vertebrae. The Veteran needs to provide correct information and authorization for these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and a rating in excess of 70 percent for his psychiatric disorder. The effective date for the award of a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disorder was set at August 26, 2014.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The right knee replacement rating is granted at 60%. The hypertension claim is denied. The left upper anterior chest costochondritis (chest pain) claim is granted with a 10% rating. The PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder claim results in an initial 50% rating and TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and review by the AOJ. The issues of PTSD, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hepatitis C secondary to PTSD are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding secondary service connection for sleep apnea related to PTSD.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing are proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sarcoidosis but remanded the issue of sleep apnea due to lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding its pre-service existence or aggravation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with myositis is rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the extent of his disability and its impact on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, TIA, GERD, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.