Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left elbow conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, knee conditions, ankle conditions, shin splints, and low back condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran's PTSD has been granted with an initial rating of 70 percent since September 20, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the examiner's opinions regarding the onset and aggravation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine has been rated at 20 percent prior to March 14, 2020 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, spondylolisthesis, and lumbosacral spine strain with bilateral radiculopathy (claimed as sciatic nerve condition), finding that there was no nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her service-connected PTSD. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records and provide an addendum opinion considering secondary service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran claims his symptoms began in service and he uses a CPAP machine now.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected herniation, peroneal longus muscle of the left leg. The decision is based on the private physician's opinion linking the Veteran's weight gain and subsequent sleep apnea to his service-connected left leg disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD and strain, OSA, and depressive disorder secondary to service-connected physical disabilities.,The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's left knee DJD and strain, OSA, and depressive disorder are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary/respiratory disability, claimed as due to asbestos exposure, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral cataracts is denied as the evidence does not show that the disability began prior to April 10, 2012.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left rib injury and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeals are granted to this extent only.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbosacral strain with disc displacement and spondylosis was denied. The rating of 10 percent prior to September 5, 2013 is maintained, while the claims for increased ratings from December 1, 2013 to November 26, 2014 (20 percent) and as of December 16, 2019 (40 percent) were denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it was not substantially complied with prior remand directives and new evidence must be considered.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea was incurred or caused by his active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for deviated septum and sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that her current disability is not related to an in-service injury or disease and is not secondary to her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus), obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to January 16, 2020 and at 70 percent beginning from that date.,Service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD is denied.,PTSD alone does not cause sleep apnea.