Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a bilateral shoulder disability, have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for acromegaly secondary to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and lumbosacral spine disability are being remanded for additional medical opinions to determine if they were caused or aggravated by her active service, including periods of annual training in the National Guard. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's asthma with obstructive sleep apnea is rated at a 50 percent disability rating throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected chronic left ankle sprain caused his obesity, which in turn caused his sleep apnea. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits was denied as he does not have an employment handicap and is therefore not in need of rehabilitation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, tinnitus, sleep apnea, left ulnar nerve neuritis, and right leg tibia stress fracture as no claim or intent to file a claim was received by VA prior to April 8, 2016.

The Veteran's asthma and functional dyspepsia have been granted presumptive service connection. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again, with a focus on whether his current condition was caused by an in-service incident involving the adenovirus vaccination and/or secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease but remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that additional development is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including tinnitus, sleep apnea, skin condition, heart condition, hypertension, and foot fungus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's obesity was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The Board found that there is no medical evidence supporting a causal link between diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but a higher rating of up to 40 percent is granted from September 20, 2018 to April 1, 2019 for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain.,After April 2, 2019, a higher rating beyond 20 percent is not warranted. The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), including secondary to his IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbosacral strain, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, migraine, and sleep apnea due to incomplete VA treatment records from 2003-2004. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of fracture to right little finger remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral artery disease as due to service-connected disabilities, right bundle branch block as due to service-connected disabilities, and right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure and his current diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for urinary tract infections, bilateral foot disability claimed as plantar fasciitis, right knee strain secondary to her service-connected left knee disability, and lumbosacral strain secondary to her service-connected left knee disability. The appeals are all resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), sleep apnea, lumbar spondylosis with disc disease, left thumb condition, right wrist condition, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), sleep apnea, lumbar spondylosis with disc disease, left thumb condition, right wrist condition, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, allergic rhinitis, and respiratory reactive airway disease (asthma) have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had symptoms of these conditions during active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 20 percent since February 25, 2009. The effective date of this rating is granted.