Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, insomnia, a neck disability, erectile dysfunction, right and left knee disabilities, and foot disabilities. The issues are related to in-service symptoms and injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and either his military service or his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed during service and is considered to have started there, warranting direct service connection. The condition is also found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is caused by his service-connected hypertension and sleep apnea, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability prior to January 23, 2020 was denied.,A 60 percent rating was assigned effective January 23, 2020 for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability due to incapacitating episodes. The claim for a higher rating since that date remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is reopened, and the Board has remanded his claims for PTSD with TBI, right knee internal derangement, and degenerative disc disease. A VA examination will be required to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected GERD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, including its relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD and/or TBI, and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for sleep apnea, digestive disorder, heart disorder, back disorder, and headaches are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a back disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea claim. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, heart disability, and sleep apnea are all currently under review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected gastritis and GERD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted. Service connection is also established for fibromyalgia, a disability manifested by a loss of vision, bursitis of the left hip, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cholecystitis status post cholecystectomy, Sjogren’s disease, and Raynaud’s syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it had its onset during his active duty and is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination and etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, which may be related to his service-connected pansinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea and RBD disorder, secondary to his service-connected PTSD was denied. His initial rating claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to February 15, 2011 was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea likely had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and sinusitis have been dismissed. The appeal regarding an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is remanded.