Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea have been denied. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of CFS or OSA, and are more likely related to his service-connected PTSD and recently diagnosed OSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for PTSD, headaches, and essential tremors of both hands. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU effective from January 23, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, thyroid condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and GERD. The reasons given were that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.,Service connection was not granted because there was no chronic disease shown during service or within presumptive periods, and continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service and if it was aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically his periods of active duty and exposure during service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia and PTSD), and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examination and lack of consideration of certain medical research. The Veteran's OSA is being evaluated again, with a focus on whether it was caused by his service-connected PTSD or related to his Vietnam service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anemia and anxiety disorder. The VA needs to obtain a new medical opinion on these issues.

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

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain from November 25, 2019. The previous ratings of 10 and 20 percent are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable, and service connection for CLL, residuals of myocardial infarction, bilateral hearing loss, OSA (now claimed as secondary to PTSD), and breathing problems (now claimed as COPD) are all denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including his COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence and for further development.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to GAD is granted. The reduction in rating from 50% to 30% for GAD, effective February 1, 2019, was not proper and the 50% evaluation is restored.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues of entitlement to a left shoulder disorder, an increased rating for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD.

Service connection is denied for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and right shoulder condition.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of VA treatment records from 1978 to 2003. The Veteran will be provided with another opportunity to obtain these records, or if they cannot be obtained, the case will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to October 24, 2018 and from October 24, 2018. The decision found that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities but not during the period of a temporary total evaluation or since he received a combined schedular rating of 100%.

The Board has denied service connection for vasodepressor syncope and upper airway resistance syndrome (claimed as sleep apnea) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between his military service or any service-connected condition and his current disability.