Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and multiple physical conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. As such, the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is as likely as not related to his service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, hypertension secondary to PTSD, GERD secondary to PTSD and duodenal ulcer, and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and duodenal ulcer due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the VA opinion is inadequate and requires a new one from an appropriate medical professional to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities and a VA examination to address his sleep apnea and sleep disturbances.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a low back disability, a left knee disability (secondary to a low back disability), obstructive sleep apnea, genital herpes, and hypertriglyceridemia.,There is no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms since service for any of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and thus, grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and secondary conditions. The Board has determined that further development is needed for the claims of left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, soft tissue disorder of the legs, and cardiovascular disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,For unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder (PTSD) and depression, the Veteran's claim was granted as they are related to his in-service experiences.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder with panic attacks and his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the appellant's claims, including obtaining his complete SSA file and VA treatment records. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination, and another medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's sleep apnea and determine its relationship to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran also needs an opinion on whether his sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with major depression.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU from August 22, 2015. However, his claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and respiratory disorder were denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's right hip disability and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded for further examination and analysis.,Service connection for a right hip disability is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and whether his anxiety disorder and PTSD caused him to become obese. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not originate in service or until years thereafter and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and sleep apnea, as well as his left hip and knee disabilities due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further review of the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 4, 2014. The issue is now recharacterized as TDIU.