Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for alcohol abuse disorder and sleep apnea, finding that both conditions are proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision also finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses were established shortly after her separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to outstanding records and need for additional medical examinations. The issues include hemorrhoids, stomach disability, heartburn, neck disability, TBI, headache (migraine), left testicle disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's testimony regarding his sleep apnea symptoms during service. The case will be returned for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between service-connected tinnitus and the Veteran's claimed sleep disability. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a separate sleeping disorder, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his condition had its onset during service or is related to active-duty service. The examiner will need to provide opinions on whether part of his sleep disturbance is directly attributable to his service-connected PTSD symptoms and whether his weight-related OSA is due to his PTSD symptoms or medications.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or PTSD.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for lumbosacral spine (back) disability from January 11, 2017 to March 15, 2022 is denied. The rating was granted at 20 percent and remains denied as the evidence does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional information is required to decide the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right hip degenerative joint disease, and left hip degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's assertions include a claim of service connection based on in-service exposure to herbicide agents (notwithstanding the fact that there may not be a presumed association).

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, left ankle, right ankle, headaches, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy as the evidence does not support a relationship to service.,An initial compensable rating for hearing loss is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn, and the appeals are dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep disturbances, obstructive sleep apnea, and GERD due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms during active duty is considered in these decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and a low back disability, both diagnosed as sprains, based on their onset during the Veteran's period of active duty.

The Veteran's OSA was diagnosed during active service and the Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met. The issues of increased rating, earlier effective date, and service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD), headaches, and left foot disability (to include plantar fasciitis) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea. The conditions are deemed to have been incurred during active duty.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, temporary total evaluation due to right knee disability requiring convalescence beyond April 1, 2018, and SMC based on housebound beyond April 1, 2018. The remaining issues of rating excess ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee disability, left ankle strain, and displaced fracture of the right middle finger are REMANDED.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 29, 2013 for the award of service connection for OSA. This decision is based on new STRs submitted by the Veteran in 2018 that were not previously available and supported a diagnosis of OSA during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), joint disabilities, gout, sleep apnea, and hypertension.

Service connection is granted for low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left-hand condition with tingling, right-hand condition with tingling, left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, and sinus cancer are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or direct causation.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, or TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.