Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment from September 23, 2008 to March 28, 2010. An effective date of September 23, 2008 for the grant of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess his PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, right thumb infection with arthritis and need for reconstruction, erectile dysfunction, scar associated with right thumb infection, and sleep apnea. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, right thumb infection with arthritis and need for reconstruction, erectile dysfunction, scar associated with right thumb infection, and sleep apnea are all remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and cervical spondylosis were rated, with the lumbosacral strain receiving a 20% rating. The cervical spondylosis was denied an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding their onset during service or whether they are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim.

Service connection for costochondritis, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea has been granted with an effective date of March 7, 2014. Service connection for traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The case is remanded to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's allergic rhinitis.,Service connection was not granted for right or left knee disabilities as separate ratable entities due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disorder was granted with an effective date of April 4, 2016. The Board found that the earlier effective date is not warranted due to lack of factual ascertainability prior to this date. Service connection for OSA remains pending as remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted service connection. The right and left wrist conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted an increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis and there is evidence that his condition was present during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and new examinations are needed to assess his current diagnoses and determine if they are related to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a current disability and no causal relationship between in-service noise exposure and present symptoms.,Service connection was also denied for sleeping problems, as there is no evidence that OSA began during service or is related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeals are remanded to obtain additional information regarding potential exposures in service that may have caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his condition and active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and lack of in-person examinations. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including a statement from his childhood friend and medical literature addressing depression and headache disorders. He also needs to be provided with an in-person examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of sleep apnea, cervical spine condition, and upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to work prior to September 9, 2015, for his service-connected lumbosacral strain (claimed as herniated disc). The case is being returned to obtain a retrospective opinion from an examiner focusing solely on the impact of this condition on the Veteran's employability during that period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder-AC separation, right knee strain (recharacterized as total knee replacement), cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain, left elbow avulsion injury with residuals, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, GERD, malaria residuals, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.