Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for a left leg disability is granted. The claims for service connection for OSA, right leg disability, eye disability, low back strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate cancer residuals, and coronary artery disease are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral leg pain, claimed as fibromyalgia; lumbosacral spine disability; and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination opinions.

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

The Veteran's claims for left foot arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,For the right ankle disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent has been denied due to lack of evidence showing marked limitation of motion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as due to PTSD, must be remanded because the December 2020 VA medical opinion is inadequate and a new one needs to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may contain relevant medical information.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, along with its associated symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, dementia, ADHD, depression, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction, are all considered service-connected.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for migraines, finding that the Veteran's headaches began after his military service and were not related to any in-service injury or disease.,The Board also denied service connection for sleep apnea, concluding that there was no evidence linking it to the Veteran's asthma or exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical examinations and a lack of reasons or bases in the prior decision. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and if it has been aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 20% rating from May 17, 2018. The claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea to include as secondary to service-connected disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood aggravates his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and determine whether separate ratings may be assigned for any associated neurologic abnormalities affecting his lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spondylosis and lumbosacral strain.,Service connection is also granted for sleep apnea, but only on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's sleep apnea and migraine headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his right shoulder condition, major depressive disorder, obesity (related to OSA), and hypertension. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability have not been linked to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including eye disability (glaucoma), sleep apnea, colon polyps, GERD, hypothyroidism, restrictive lung disease, and adrenal gland tumor. The decision also notes that the Veteran is in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits but has not provided relevant SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current OSA had its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to hypertension, finding that the evidence did not reasonably support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, both secondary to PTSD, have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.