Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The hypertension claim is remanded due to lack of recent medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee PFPS, right knee PFPS, anxiety, sleep apnea, right ankle condition, PTSD, and high blood pressure have been dismissed.,The previously denied claim of service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing whether his service-connected low back disability caused or aggravated any weight gain that led to his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and sleep apnea due to new evidence requiring further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals from an inner ear infection, including facial droop. The evidence shows no current disability related to this condition.,Obstructive sleep apnea was not shown during service and is not considered secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, as well as for an assessment of left and right lower extremity sciatica.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower gastrointestinal tract (GI) disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Veteran's GI symptoms began in 1991 during his deployment, and his OSA symptoms had their clinical onset during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and periodic limb movements during sleep, as well as whether these conditions are related to his service-connected asbestosis with COPD and nighttime hypoxia.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of proper notification. The Veteran's claim for service connection is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with current diagnoses established.,For left foot metatarsalgia and osteoarthritis and left ankle osteoarthritis, the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities had their onset in service.

The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are granted as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds the evidence is approximately evenly balanced on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea, ankle disability, and restless leg syndrome are related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's impaired balance (dizziness) and cerebrovascular disease do not have current evidence of a disability.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for chloracne remains denied.

The Veteran's gambling disorder is granted as service connected. The claim for OSA, including as secondary to other service-connected disabilities, is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The cases for left wrist pain, lumbosacral strain, and right ankle sprain are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service nasal surgery and current sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD and right knee surgical scars have been granted service connection. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for the right knee scars is also granted. However, the claim for service connection for OSA remains pending as a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if it is proximately due or aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disorders are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, as secondary to OSA due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.