Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and a skin condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to his service-connected asthma. The Veteran needs to be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep apnea is related to his service-connected asthma, and if it was aggravated by his asthma.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty in whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether ED was aggravated by his acquired psychiatric disability.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, but no rating assigned as it is presumed due to in-service personal assault.

Service connection is granted for a gastrointestinal disorder and left inguinal hernia. Service connection is denied for obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder had onset during service, while his left inguinal hernia was initially diagnosed shortly after discharge from active duty.

The claim for service connection for numbness and loss of use of left hand and fingers has been reopened. The claim for OSA is denied, and the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for numbness in the left arm due to achilles tendon surgery and for major depressive disorder as secondary to numbness and loss of use of left hand and fingers are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's back injury during service is the cause of his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and heart condition, both related to herbicide exposure. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to the conceded herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's nightmares and flashbacks are related to his fear of deployment, which may support a diagnosis of depression.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or asthma, as well as other lay reports of sleeping problems in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition aggravated his OSA. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma, hypertension, and skin condition due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's sleep apnea and alopecia are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's skin tags are service connected as they began during active service and have persisted since then.,The Veteran's patches of numbness and/or hypersensitivity are not service connected. The Board found that the symptoms did not manifest within one year of service or to a compensable degree.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder is now rated at 100% effective November 6, 2016. His low back disability is now rated at 40% effective April 15, 2014. The Veteran's GERD and Parkinsonism are both newly service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected chronic kidney disease with hypertension or migraine headaches, finding that there is no medical evidence supporting a relationship between these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his respiratory conditions and service, including exposure to burn pits. An additional examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has granted a TDIU from April 25, 2013, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in July 2021 was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea.