Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a retrospective medical opinion to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities require additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ratings for his right inguinal hernia repair and ankle strain. The Veteran also requested a TDIU rating due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to active duty service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that his current sleep apnea is not related to his military service.,Service connection for a bilateral hand disability was denied as there is no in-service event, injury, or disease linked to the Veteran's current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 80 percent for grand mal seizure disorder is denied.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a left (minor) shoulder strain, impingement syndrome and labral tear with superior labral anterior-posterior lesion is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acne with residual scarring, sleep apnea, tension headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendinitis, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, chronic right ankle strain, bilateral pes planus, right great toe injury, hypertension, left and right knee instability, and traumatic brain injury, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 11, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) after an addendum opinion was obtained. The claim will be readjudicated and a new SSOC will be issued.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and sexual dysfunction due to inadequate review of relevant medical records, particularly a January 2018 private sleep study and psychiatric examination notes.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service injury and his existing service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a respiratory disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to insufficient notice provided by VA.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea symptoms began during service and have been continuous since then, granting service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to September 28, 2017 and denied any higher rating thereafter. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his OSA and military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.