Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for clarification of the evidence regarding his back pain and radiculopathy, as well as to ensure that all necessary development has been completed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory conditions due to incomplete development of records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, diagnosed as disc space narrowing at L5-S1, finding that the Veteran's in-service physical activities were related to his current condition. The decision also notes that the rating criteria will consider overall functionality of the back and distinguishes symptoms associated with the now service-connected back disorder from those associated with other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected tuberculosis. The VA must obtain a supplemental opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, and skin rash disabilities render him unemployable due to their impact on his ability to work in any field.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and medical opinions, as requested in an April 2022 Board Remand.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether his obesity is caused or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities. The rating for back disability and bladder disability have been dismissed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a direct nexus opinion and consideration of service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for eczema of the bilateral lower extremities was denied, and his claim for TDIU prior to May 21, 2019, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for exercise-induced asthma and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran contends his conditions began during service, but there is no verified Gulf War service. He also suggests a secondary or aggravation theory of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, OSA as secondary to his deviated septum, and right hip strain.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's right knee disability as a contributing factor to his right hip strain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that any current symptoms are related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not related to his in-service car accident or head injury, and the weight of medical literature does not support a relationship between TBI and obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as VA did not obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether pre-existing hearing loss increased during service. The Veteran also has tinnitus which was not addressed in the decision, so this issue is also remanded.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied due to a lack of medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, heart disability (secondary to hypertension), nausea (secondary to hypertension), dizziness (secondary to hypertension), and headaches (secondary to hypertension) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted service connection, with the former receiving a grant of entitlement to an evaluation of 100 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder from March 13, 2013.,Special monthly compensation based on housebound status has also been granted.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected neck and low back disabilities, and thus remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim as the appellant is deceased.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and stomach conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran testified that he injured his back during active service but did not seek treatment until after separation, while GERD was diagnosed as recently as November 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded and will be reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active service, and if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.