Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner.

Service connection for IBS is granted.,PTSD with Depression and Panic Disorder was previously denied, but a higher rating of 50% prior to September 8, 2015, and 70% on or after that date is granted.,Lumbosacral Strain has been rated at 10% prior to January 11, 2021, and 20% on or after that date. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.,Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy was previously denied, but the claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have started during service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to confirm his service in Vietnam and to obtain opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 7, 2016.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to confirm his service in Vietnam and to obtain opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected bi-polar disorder.,Prior to April 2, 2020, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was rated at 20 percent. From April 2, 2020 onwards, a rating of 40 percent is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD/MDD, as well as potential environmental exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's OSA during his military service. The Veteran and his son provided additional information that was not considered in the previous opinion, so a new medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and medical opinions regarding his back disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spondylosis (back disability), service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the back disability, and service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the back disability are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, low back disabilities (including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy), right knee DJD, and left knee DJD. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding kidney stones.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw it.

The Board has dismissed all the issues on appeal due to the death of the Veteran before a final decision could be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during active service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected post nasoseptal deviation with allergic rhinitis. The claim for an increased disability rating for post nasoseptal deviation with allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and hypertension to include as secondary to PTSD due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development due to incomplete or contradictory examination reports. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded for further development, including a VA examination and opinion on the nature, onset, and etiology of any respiratory disorder to include addressing the Veteran's contention that sleep apnea symptoms manifested after being exposed to burn pits. The claim will also consider the applicability of VA's amendment to its regulations to establish presumptive service connection for three chronic respiratory health conditions in association with exposure to fine particulate matter for those Gulf War Veterans who served in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but additional development is needed to determine if his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, leading to the condition.