Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his sleep apnea, back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and respiratory condition. The claims are being returned for further development.

An increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is granted from December 6, 2011.,Service connection for a skin condition (fibromatous type changes and keloid) is granted. The Veteran's current disability includes bilateral cataracts and glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.,PTSD claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, kidney infection, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower back pain is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is also remanded.,An increased rating for diabetes mellitus secondary to cataracts and glaucoma is remanded.,Service connection for kidney infection is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral ankle pain is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.,Service connection for lower back pain is remanded.,Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, including herbicide agent exposure, or to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the likelihood of service connection for sleep apnea, REM sleep behavior disorder, and their relationship to the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to new and relevant evidence.,An increased rating of 100 percent from September 7, 2017 for PTSD has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral cataracts, finding no evidence of a relationship to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and service connection for sleep apnea, so the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Ear Hearing Loss due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with a focus on whether they are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he claims was incurred in and/or secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or depression.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for rating increases and service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with spondylosis was previously rated at 10 percent, effective January 22, 2015. The Board has restored the rating to 20 percent since November 4, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and GERD have been found to aggravate her obstructive sleep apnea, warranting a grant of service connection for OSA as secondary.,A rating of 70 percent is granted for the Veteran's depressive disorder.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have been incurred during his active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is granted a 40 percent rating, effective January 27, 2016. The right hip condition is granted an initial 20 percent rating, effective November 21, 2016.

All claims for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Veteran's hepatitis A has not met the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand instructions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD or diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his service in Vietnam and is related to his current condition, thus granting service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his in-service fall. The examiner must address the Veteran's statements, service treatment records, and a private physician's opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals as to service connection and increased ratings for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than fifty percent for obstructive sleep apnea with pleural fibrosis is denied. The issue of entitlement to separate compensation for shortness of breath and fatigue associated with pleural fibrosis, rib pain, and cracked vertebrae in the neck are remanded.