Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Sleep Apnea with Restless Leg Syndrome due to inconsistencies in the October 2015 VA examination report. The RO is instructed to attempt to verify the Veteran's reported stressors, obtain any outstanding VA treatment records, and schedule a new VA examination for both PTSD and sleep disorders.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent sleep disability (including obstructive sleep apnea) and hypertension, as well as the effective dates for TDIU and VA Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as lumbosacral strain with degenerative spurring L1 and L2. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is also being remanded due to incomplete records from University of Utah Health Care.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records and VA treatment records from prior to April 10, 2009. The Veteran's vocational rehabilitation counseling folder is also being sought.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's OSA was not caused by or aggravated during his active duty service and is more likely related to weight gain after discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA may be related to his service-connected PTSD and lumbar strain, but a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Board has found that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea, as there are inconsistencies in the medical records and the Veteran reported worsening symptoms since the last examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for deviated septum has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeal will be reconsidered after a VA medical opinion is provided.

The Veteran's OSA was found to have started during active service and has been recurring since discharge, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, has been remanded due to insufficient evidence in the previous opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and a gastrointestinal disorder, as they are related to exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development regarding his migraine headaches and need for regular aid and attendance.,The Veteran's appeal is also REMANDED to obtain private vision records related to his migraines, and to schedule a VA examination to determine the extent of his service-connected foot disabilities alone as pertinent to his need for the regular aid and attendance of another person. ,The Veteran's appeal is further REMANDED to schedule a VA examination to determine the extent of functional impairment presented by his corns and callosities of the bilateral feet, distinguishing between service-connected and nonservice-connected causes.

The Veteran's loss of balance is due to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, facet arthropathy and L2-L5 laminectomy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve paralysis with radiculopathy and neuropathy. The Board granted service connection for loss of balance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and Obstructive Sleep Apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's back brace caused wear and tear to his clothing, resulting in the need for frequent shirt replacements. The Board granted a clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year based on this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, sleep apnea, and headache due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations.