Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it had onset during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,There is no medical opinion in the record linking the Veteran’s current heart conditions or sleep apnea to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain is denied.,The Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings prior to October 1, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to October 1, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, loss of use of the left leg, and loss of use of the right leg due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a VA examination to determine the current severity of his asthma.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to a service-connected disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. Additional medical comment is needed concerning whether some medications prescribed for his service-connected disabilities aggravate his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service or secondary to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating prior to November 1, 2019 and denied for any higher rating. A separate 30 percent rating is granted for bladder impairment associated with the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise causally related to service, including any claimed pulmonary exposures during service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if sleep apnea is related to service, including in relation to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for respiratory conditions and rheumatoid arthritis due to a lack of STRs, and further development is needed.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for sleep apnea and residuals of a fracture of the third metatarsal of the left foot. The claim for service connection for a left foot disability is granted, but the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the appellant's current left foot disability was incurred in or is otherwise causally related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and initial rating for tension headaches have been granted. The issue of TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic laryngitis, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete evaluations and failure to address secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise and deciding in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's major depression caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The decision summary is that the Veteran’s back condition does not warrant an increased rating, while his obstructive sleep apnea was found less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle fracture, status/post total ankle replacement and lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD) have been denied as the medical evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service and/or caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected bilateral knee disorders and remanded for further examination and opinion.