Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, PTSD, and a right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of service-connected hearing loss and the etiology of sleep apnea. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lower back disability and associated bilateral leg radiculopathy, as well as his claim for service connection for a heart disorder. The remand includes requests for updated VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete documentation of his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1982 until his retirement in 2013, with multiple periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and hypertension, finding the preponderance of evidence against these claims.,Service connection is also denied for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay reports.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol, bilateral eye disability, and lumbosacral spine disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.,Service connection is not granted as the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and a psychiatric disability (posttraumatic stress disorder). The VA examinations are required to address whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral feet epidermophytosis and lumbar spine disability are both denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent effective September 10, 2010. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD or residuals of service-connected facial injuries is granted.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the April 2019 remand directives and thus requires further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for back disability and sleep apnea has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, and his lumbar spine disability were granted. The claim for a gallbladder condition was denied. Service connection for hiatal hernia and hypertension was not established. A rating of 70 percent for the lumbar spine disability is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension and asbestosis have been granted service connection. The decision on sleep apnea is pending.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is denied as not related to service, with the Board finding that it is more likely due to obesity. The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted as presumptively caused by herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50% rating, and his rhinitis does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities because there is insufficient evidence on whether the Veteran's diabetes is related to his in-service asbestos exposure or his service-connected COPD with sleep apnea. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the diabetes, including its relationship to both asbestos exposure and COPD.