Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent prior to June 3, 2021 and granted a 100 percent rating as of that date.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected rhinitis and sinusitis, but more evidence is needed for a definitive determination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a non-organic sleep disorder is dismissed.,Issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis, OSA, TBI, headaches, Meniere's disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis (to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability), and erectile dysfunction (to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension) are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is dismissed, and the claims for OSA and back disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and sleep apnea are remanded due to incomplete records, including VA treatment records from South Dakota, Louisiana, Texas, and private hospitals in Texas. The Veteran testified about his exposure to chemicals during service and symptoms of breathing difficulties and sleep apnea while in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while limiting his employment opportunities, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are less than total in severity and he has other employable skills.

The Board has determined that an addendum medical opinion is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's symptoms of nervousness, night sweats, and headaches are signs or symptoms of an 'undiagnosed illness' as defined by 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 or related to an unexplained multi-chronic illness.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorder, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The AOJ is instructed to provide a new VA medical opinion addressing whether OSA had its onset in service or is otherwise causally related to service. Additionally, the opinion should address whether OSA was caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury and that any present conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left varicocele.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for GERD and remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and trapezius strain. The Veteran's GERD is being examined to determine if it is related to service, while his back conditions are being examined to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for genital warts was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence, thus denying the reopening of this claim. Other claims were remanded due to insufficient treatment records.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has found that the August 2021 addendum opinion is insufficient and requires another medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Chiari malformation, obstructive sleep apnea, and narcolepsy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the preexistence of these conditions in service and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and xerosis (skin rash) due to his PTSD. The issues were previously before the Board in September 2018, September 2020, and April 2021.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, and gastrointestinal disorder (GERD, acid reflux, hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagitis) due to service-connected PTSD.,The VA medical opinions provided negative nexus opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including bilateral eye condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, lumbosacral spine condition, cervical spine condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition. The VA is required to provide additional examinations or opinions that address the lay evidence of record and provide rationale for any conclusions reached.