Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and for his obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and bursitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for right knee disability.

The Board has remanded several cases involving the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with spurring and status post chondroplasty, recurrent subluxation of the right knee, postoperative cervical fusion with Brown-Sequard syndrome prior to July 6, 2018, and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss, upper back, lower back, acid reflux (GERD), respiratory disability, and hemorrhoids were denied service connection. Service connection for the disabilities of the upper and lower extremities was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee meniscal tear have been rated, but the Board has not determined if additional service connection is warranted for neck, shoulder, or sinus conditions.,The Veteran's knees require further examination to determine their current functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations performed are insufficient to determine the present claims and additional evidentiary development is needed. The Veteran's sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right wrist and/or forearm disability, and left wrist and/or forearm disability need further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service or caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability and a skin condition, including rosacea. The Veteran's right foot conditions were not found to be related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA clinical records. Issues of service connection for constipation, bladder disability, and sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand orders and the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep condition and gallbladder symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not related to any in-service injury or event.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including dental condition, right shoulder disability, right arm disability, OSA, kidney disability, polycythemia, right knee DJD with limitation of flexion, left knee DJD, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia with GERD, and TDIU. The remand requires additional development to obtain relevant VA treatment records and conduct a VA examination for the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to further development being necessary.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have begun during active service and is granted.,The Veteran's tender joints, residuals of colon cancer, erectile dysfunction, and blocked nasal passages are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The decision is based on direct evidence of the conditions' onset during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU prior to April 29, 2020 due to insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to a failure to afford the Veteran a VA examination. The examiner is asked to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during his active service or is otherwise caused by his active service, including environmental exposures in Afghanistan.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for OSA with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and COPD, status post right VATS upper lobectomy was denied. Service connection for intestinal cancer was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions.