Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his military service, but more evidence is needed to make a determination on whether it is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right thumb condition and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with new addendum opinions that address direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The claims for asthma, back condition, and bilateral knee condition are remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to wearing of a back brace in 2016 is denied because the brace does not cause irreparable damage to clothing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety now claimed as chronic schizophrenia/depression, asthma now claimed as chronic pulmonary syndrome, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with traumatic DJD, finding that the evidence did not support ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, coronary artery disease, GERD, and sleep apnea as they are related to service-connected PTSD. The VA will provide new opinions regarding whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected lumbosacral strain. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and a headache disorder due to inadequate analysis in previous decisions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain with trace retrolisthesis at L3, L4, and L4-5 and segmental instability (low back disability) as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a respiratory disorder (other than OSA) due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for PTSD and Sleep Apnea require further development due to incomplete verification of stressor events, and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any new diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability was denied. Separate initial ratings of 10 percent were granted for sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities effective October 12, 2010.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder (claimed as obstructive sleep apnea) is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its relationship to service, including herbicide exposure and service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, and he is now eligible for benefits due to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for OSA and GERD have also been granted as they are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.