Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathies are now rated at 20 percent effective June 12, 2017. The right leg-length discrepancy is not compensable, and the left and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of decision. The Board also granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities prior to June 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's currently diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) may be related to his military service, and thus remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, sinusitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, and related conditions are remanded due to missing service treatment records.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracic/lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are also remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and sleep apnea due to insufficient reasoning in the VA medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine, lumbosacral strain and thoracic spine strain has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear, and TBI are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran is also seeking a compensable rating for his service-connected sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected. The back disability issue was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected GERD and/or psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded for addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, lung condition (also claimed as asbestosis), sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy, Barrett's Esophagus/gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis/celiac disease, and neurological effects (restless leg syndrome).

The Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including tinnitus, vertigo (claimed as dizziness and unbalance), an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), memory loss, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity disability, right upper extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, right lower extremity disability, left knee arthralgia, and right knee arthralgia are still pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbosacral spine and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his active duty service or any related disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, depression, or weight gain.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on low back strain, lumbar radiculopathy (lower right extremity), and scar have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD.