Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, PTSD, substance abuse disorder, OSA, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal was remanded to clarify the diagnosis and etiology of a TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have other residuals of his in-service head injury apart from headaches, loss of balance, and service-connected subarachnoid cyst. The Board found no evidence linking these MRI findings to an in-service head injury.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hiatal hernia, and HTN. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection as there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot as the Veteran's combined disability rating does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, especially as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to ensure the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are properly evaluated. Specifically, the VA needs to obtain medical records and provide an opinion on whether inclinometer measurements can be converted to goniometer measurements.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right knee iliotibial band syndrome, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's athlete's foot is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's migraines, to include as secondary to tinnitus, are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's back pain is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's pain and limited use of the jaw is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's eye pain and scars status post surgical repair are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's plates in the entire face status post facial surgeries are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's scars of the face and head are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's type I diabetes is remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to active service or aggravated by service-connected PTSD with MDD.

The Veteran's hypertension and cataracts have been granted service connection. The respiratory disorder, sleep apnea, disability manifested by poor circulation, Bell's Palsy, and bilateral plantar fasciitis have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, his claims are denied as there is no persuasive medical evidence or credible lay evidence that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's claim for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD has been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and is granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for asthma, which will be decided on the merits.,Right (dominant) elbow arthritis, lateral epicondylitis, and tricep tendonitis are found to have their onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest in-service and is not related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, as opinions are required regarding whether these conditions are related to his sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, prostatitis, or hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have an onset during service and is not causally or etiologically due to service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a secondary service connection claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, GERD, sleep apnea, and wrist disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and lack of consideration of certain factors. The case will be returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, hypertension, and sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for his migraine headaches, hypertension, and sleep disorder, including sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for various knee, hip, and spine disabilities have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.