Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, including sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The decision on these issues is pending further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis with pleural plaques.

Service connection granted for a headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected respiratory disorder, and generalized fatigue as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's respiratory disorder required daily use of immunosuppressive medications during the entire rating period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and prostate cancer, as they may be related to service. The VA will need to obtain relevant medical records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if his conditions are linked to his time in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a respiratory injury or disease during service and no causal relationship between the condition and either active service or his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board also found that OSA was not aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has vacated the decision regarding service connection for hypertension due to a failure of due process. The appeal is remanded for further development on all issues, including service connection and TDIU.

Service connection for a left wrist strain and lumbosacral strain is granted.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and service connection for migraines are to be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if service connection can be granted for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, upper respiratory disability, TBI, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the claims for service connection of hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disorder, and sleep apnea before a decision could be made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination. The Veteran's PTSD, hepatitis C, back disability, and bilateral foot disability are also being remanded for additional examinations and opinions. His TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with his PTSD rating claim.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective from August 28, 2015 and November 30, 2020. The decision is based on findings that the Veteran’s symptoms more nearly approximate forward flexion of 30 degrees or less throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions considering all relevant factors, including his exposure during combat.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation due to inconsistencies in the service-connected conditions and their impact on the Veteran's disability ratings.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and strain, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and cellulitis have been granted service connection. Effective June 29, 2017, the Veteran has also received a 100 percent schedular rating for his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted as service connected, with the injury occurring during qualifying service in the National Guard on October 28, 2000.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected, with the Board resolving doubt in his favor.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of evidence showing it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.