Sleep apnea decisions — 2020

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective January 1, 2020. The initial rating claims for knee and back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by service-connected sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the service-connected diabetes, PTSD, and/or medications for either are at least as likely as not (50 percent or more probability) the cause or aggravation of the veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for his son D.A. as a 'helpless child' on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18 is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his service and is related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and a thoracolumbar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and lack of consideration of relevant lay statements and VA treatment records. The Veteran's current sinus disability, including right deviated nasal septum status post septoplasty, right nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis, and rhinitis medicamentosa is being considered for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling for the period prior to December 28, 2017, and 100 percent disabling for the period thereafter, for service-connected PTSD due to withdrawal. The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to his Vietnam-era exposure. The Board has remanded issues of service connection for a respiratory disability (including chronic cough and COPD), sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and heart disability (including heart disease and atrial fibrillation) due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions, specifically his lumbosacral spine disability and major depressive disorder. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and its relationship to his degenerative disc disease. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition, including range of motion testing, functional limitations, and neurological abnormalities. Additionally, he needs an opinion on whether his degenerative disc disease is related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain or service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of authorization for private treatment records, and instructed VA to send the appellant a letter requesting she provide information about these records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, numbness of the hands, acquired psychiatric disability, neck disability, and sleep apnea. The Board finds that further development is required to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorders. The initial hearing loss evaluation remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, gout, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate disorder, thyroid disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and unspecified arthritis are being remanded due to additional evidence received since the August 2019 statement of the case. The AOJ will review this new evidence in its entirety before readjudicating the claims.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence demonstrating the existence of a present disability at any time during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a respiratory condition including asthma are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion addressing secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeals of the denial of increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD, hypertension, and sleep apnea as there are questions regarding the qualifications of the VA examiner who conducted the initial examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.