Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected left shoulder disability, lumbar spine arthritis, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has also been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine were granted. The claim for bilateral hip disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for bilateral knee disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and associated sciatic nerve radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's claims under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Hip Disability, finding that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board denies entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress, and whether obesity acts as an intermediate step between a service-connected disability and the development of a current disability that may be service connected on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to treatment for his service-connected back disorder is remanded as the examinations are inadequate and further examination is required.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, sleep apnea, hypertension and GERD have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to toxic chemicals or other factors that would support a finding of service connection.,Service connection was not granted because the medical evidence does not show any link between the current disabilities and military service. The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service exposures were found to be unsupported by the record.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury, illness or event.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and an unspecified anxiety disorder. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The claim for reopening of the seizure disorder claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete VA treatment records, insufficient examination opinions, and need for additional medical evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is less likely related to his military service due to a significant gap between his separation from active duty and his diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's initial rating for low back disability is denied as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted with an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his OSA and his military service, including exposure to chemicals. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking OSA to obesity or mental disorders.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is presumed to have occurred as a result of active service. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, manifested as central apneas, is found to be secondary to his service-connected coronary artery bypass grafting.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and pes planus was granted with an effective date of January 25, 2008. The Board found that the onset of both conditions occurred during service.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, eye disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), vasectomy, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.