Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea first manifested during his active service or is otherwise related to service, including irregular sleep patterns and breathing fumes from military equipment and vehicles.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is service-connected and if his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Veteran's tinnitus, deviated septum, sleep apnea, hypertension, GERD, sinusitis, and asthma have been granted service connection.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for forehead scar is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea had an onset during service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine was granted with a 20% disability rating effective July 12, 2021. The maximum schedular rating has not been assigned.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection on four separate conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for additional opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is secondary to service-connected hypertension or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbosacral strain and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the range of motion tests were performed in a weight-bearing position, or if additional examinations are required.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, initial rating for service-connected headaches, compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and increased ratings for service-connected chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the entire appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for migraine headaches secondary to PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine strain, and/or tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.,Left ear hearing loss has been granted but no compensable disability rating assigned yet. The issue of right ear hearing loss remains unresolved.,New evidence must be considered to determine if it warrants reopening the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, with a noncompensable rating assigned for ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb sprain.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea must be remanded again for further development.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings on several service-connected conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided were not in compliance with the November 2020 remand directives, thus requiring another remand for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the effective dates are set as of January 27, 2012. The Board found no evidence indicating a formal or informal claim prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether sleep apnea is secondary to service-connected disabilities, particularly obesity.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and expert opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of skin disorder, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.