Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the conditions were not incurred or caused by service, including as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle, groin, and right hand disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.,For obstructive sleep apnea, the claim has been remanded due to insufficient information regarding exposure.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his period of active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including the claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including service personnel records and post-service medical records. The appeal is also being remanded to provide notice regarding herbicide exposure and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for OSA was denied. The rating reduction of prostate cancer from 100% to 10% was granted, effective April 1, 2015. The claims for increased ratings for acquired psychiatric disability and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (s/p LSC) are remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the right and left hands. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as due to environmental exposure in Southwest Asia, is remanded.

The appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was not received within one year of his separation from active duty, and thus the effective date cannot be earlier than July 9, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to claims of additional disabilities resulting from a 1986 esophagogastrectomy. The Veteran's OSA, COPD, asthma, depression, anxiety, and claudication are all found to be related to this surgery.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional development.,Service connection is being remanded for acid reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, ED, and hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board found the reduction in disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and scoliosis, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from 40%, 20%, and 20% to 20%, 10%, and 10% respectively was proper. The Veteran's disability ratings were reduced based on improvement in his condition as shown by VA examinations conducted in October 2017.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board has granted a higher rating for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during service or was otherwise directly related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded due to issues with the Board's analysis of his educational history and work capacity. The case is now being returned for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in the November 2021 hearing. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.