Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral shoulder, and back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD with additional conditions like atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic lumbosacral strain, left elbow epicondylitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder tendonitis, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 19, 2015. The Veteran is now eligible for a TDIU based on his MDD with PTSD alone, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals as he withdrew all his pending appeals through his authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and nail fungus on fingernails and toes (skin disorder). The Board found that the Veteran's conditions did not develop during his active duty service, and there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to show they were aggravated by service.,The VA examiners provided opinions stating that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and nail fungus on fingernails and toes (skin disorder) clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and did not worsen during his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the claim for obstructive sleep apnea due to secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is being remanded for further development and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for MDD, alcohol use disorder, and OSA as secondary to a psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and her in-service oral surgery. The Veteran will need an addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU related to his lumbosacral degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea secondary to a service-connected condition, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has decided that the VA medical opinion provided is inadequate and requires further development to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to her service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the claim due to an inadequate examination and requests for updated treatment records and a new examination.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol is dismissed.,Service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and PTSD, as well as service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral hip condition, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's sleep apnea by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and a bladder condition due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's MS with RUE weakness and associated insomnia are granted a 50% rating. The claim for service connection of OSA is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea and insomnia are related to her service-connected PTSD, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.