Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right arm numbness, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential discrepancies in diagnoses and need for further examination.

The Board has restored the original ratings of 20% for lumbosacral spine disability and 20% for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, effective May 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), left and right ankle disorders, skin condition, psychiatric disorder, and bilateral chondromalacia. The Veteran is required to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions, stomach condition to include GERD, hypertension, COPD to include as due to asbestos exposure, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as the condition began during active duty and continued post-service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the October 2017 VA sleep disorders examination, and for a new opinion regarding the continuity of relevant symptoms over time.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased rating for migraines, and initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is granted. The Board also remanded the cases of sleep apnea and a higher rating for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to TDIU due to unresolved medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not provided with a VA examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's effective date for service connection of surgical scars is denied, and her increased rating claim for surgical scars status/post resection right chest remains pending. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to determine if sleep apnea is related to or aggravated by service-connected leiomyosarcoma with thoracotomy and removal of the 6th, 7th, and 8th ribs.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and low back disability are all granted. The left knee and right knee disabilities receive a rating of 30 percent each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, heart disability (other than coronary artery disease), and psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to conflicting opinions and insufficient evidence. The Veteran's OSA is not related to his service, but may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are found to have caused his obstructive sleep apnea, leading to the grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of his OSA. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the OSA claim.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right inguinal surgical scar were evaluated, with the latter receiving a non-compensable rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for either condition.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was incurred or aggravated in active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type II, as these conditions are claimed to be secondary to his service-connected lower extremity disabilities. The Veteran is seeking a determination on whether his current diagnoses of sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are related to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral lower extremity varicose veins and left ankle disabilities.