Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have started during his active service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) is also granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. A 70% rating for PTSD is granted, and the Veteran is granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also granted. The Board remanded the issues of hypertension and hearing loss.

The Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, effective October 1, 2009. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether her service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is directly related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities, including medications used for those disabilities.

The Veteran's left tonsil carcinoma and sleep apnea were not found to be service-connected. However, the Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning December 21, 2017 due to his service-connected depression.

The Veteran's unspecified sinus disorder is granted as service connected. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim for secondary service connection to his sinus disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the neck, sleep disorder (including narcolepsy and sleep apnea), PTSD, neurodermatitis, and TDIU due to incomplete development and lack of consideration of recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD, headaches, and insomnia are granted service connection. The remaining conditions (tinea pedis, iron deficiency anemia, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, memory loss after surgery during service, peripheral drusen, cataracts, and retina degeneration) have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and noted the lack of contemporaneous medical records.,For the left shoulder disability, initial evaluations were denied as the evidence did not show manifestations during active service or any subsequent period on appeal.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye disability, sleep apnea, gout, hypertension, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to his inability to demonstrate permanent and total disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his reported in-service injuries and self-medication.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee and/or foot disabilities. The rating for residuals of a fracture of the femur with DJD of the left knee is increased to 30 percent effective October 15, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, right hand disability, headaches, and sleep apnea. The right hand disability and headaches are remanded for additional development.