Sleep apnea decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of exposure information.

The Veteran's appeal regarding tinnitus and sleep apnea has been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran is granted an initial 20 percent rating for his cervical spine disability from December 21, 2007 to February 13, 2009. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent prior to February 12, 2020 and at 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea. The claims are not currently decided on service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome was increased to 30 percent effective August 11, 2011. The Veteran's initial rating for lumbosacral and thoracic degenerative disc disease was increased to 40 percent effective August 6, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea and a rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine prior to May 24, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The increased rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and the secondary service connection claim for left hand disorder are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has found that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertensive vascular disease, and allergic rhinitis due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of recent VA treatment records. The cases are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent from March 27, 2016. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and bilateral flatfoot, but has remanded the right foot injury claim. The Veteran is granted service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence showing a current disability related to service. The right foot injury and bilateral flatfoot issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the issue of aggravation of non-service-connected disabilities by service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 40 percent since March 2, 2020. The Board denied a higher rating for the condition prior to that date and also denied separate ratings based on neurological manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence that it is related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected asbestosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and her service-connected PTSD, fibromyalgia, and any other conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain an adequate medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and additional development is needed, including a supplemental VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD). The decision also dismissed appeals regarding effective dates for other diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that the Veteran's symptoms in service were indicative of OSA, which was later diagnosed and treated.