Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for angina, arthritis, a respiratory disorder (OSA), and a skin disorder have all been denied as they are not related to his military service or the herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypoglycemia has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal.,Service connection for a dental condition is denied as there is no evidence of loss of substance of body of maxilla or mandible from trauma or disease such as osteomyelitis during service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory condition, claimed as breathing problems, to include as due to asbestos exposure, has been denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support an in-service event related to this condition.,Service connection for a skin condition (dermatofibromas) is denied as there are no records showing anatomical loss of mandible or maxilla during service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for mouth lesion has been remanded due to the lack of consideration of in-service complaints and the need for clarification regarding the diagnosis pattern.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as there are no records showing a specific exposure event related to this condition during service.,Service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right hand middle finger disability, right hand ring finger disability, and right hand pinky finger disability have all been remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and consideration of in-service complaints and current diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and pulmonary disorder (asbestosis), and denied a rating higher than 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss since September 1, 2020. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain myositis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete STRs and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again with a focus on its etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and a lumbosacral and thoracic sprain due to inadequate examinations in July 2017. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD or diabetes mellitus, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coccydynia, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cystic kidney disease, eye condition (keratoconjunctivitis), sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a causal link between these conditions and active service.,The Veteran's testimony regarding his experiences in service was considered, but the VA examiners noted inconsistencies and lack of consistency in the Veteran’s statements.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and strain is currently rated at 40 percent from April 28, 2021. The Board has determined that the current ratings are less than the maximum available ratings and remands the case for further development to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's neck, right hip, and back disabilities are related to his active service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins and sleep apnea due to insufficient VA opinions and need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied as there is no evidence that OSA was incurred in or a result of his active-duty service, and the VA examiner concluded it is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions. The case will be reviewed with an additional medical opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 40 percent effective January 14, 2021. The claim for higher ratings and TDIU were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, hypertension, and/or PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board did not address the merits of any claims as it had no jurisdiction.