Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since January 30, 2018. From January 9, 2020 onward, a higher rating for the condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, to include as secondary to his PTSD, and for a higher rating for his PTSD. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and conduct further examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed during service and is considered to have started there, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that new evidence was submitted within a year of the January 2018 rating decision, making it new and material. The Veteran's representative contends that his sleep apnea is due to weight gain caused by service-connected conditions. Therefore, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus were denied, while the claim for a respiratory disability was also denied. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for his stomach disability from October 28, 2014 to February 7, 2017, but this rating is subject to regulations governing monetary benefits.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for the stomach disability and BHL were denied. The stomach disability claim was remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting service records and a need for clarification of the Veteran's period of active duty from May 2009 through February 2011. The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which was denied in January 2015.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, which is secondary to PTSD. The remand requires an additional medical opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression with PTSD and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot status post fracture disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded and requires an additional VA opinion to address the relationship between his service-connected PTSD, sinusitis, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a neck disability and OSA due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, as these conditions are claimed to be related to his bilateral knee disabilities. The decision also includes a remand for TDIU due to its inextricability with the service connection claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence supports a relationship between his current condition and military service.

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

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, ED, GERD, and OSA. The decision also denied a compensable rating for hypertension.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's conditions did not have onset in or within one year of service discharge, nor are they related to any aspect of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether hypertension was aggravated by service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU, and his employment in a protected work environment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for alopecia of the lower extremities, obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to depression and/or sinusitis and chronic rhinitis with chronic headaches, temporomandibular joint dislocation with grinding of teeth and bone loss (TMJ disability) as secondary to depression, and erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to depression for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his exposure to herbicide agents in Panama, which may affect the service connection for some of his claimed conditions.