Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 8, 2021 for the award of a 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral retinitis pigmentosa with pseudophakia was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 50 percent or more for coccidioidomycosis with sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's OSA. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his OSA, which he claims is related to his military service or secondary to PTSD. The VA will need to provide a thorough examination and opinion on these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it before a decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's OSA is not shown to be caused or etiologically related to service. The Board concludes that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's back condition is granted as service connected. The left leg condition and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's disability ratings for his lumbar spine and associated lower extremity radiculopathies were improperly reduced. The original ratings of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability and 20 percent for each affected nerve were restored.

The Board has decided that the earlier effective dates for service connection of various disabilities are remanded due to incomplete documentation regarding scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as folliculitis of the scalp, forehead, back and legs, rosacea on the face, and actinic keratoses on the arms, is granted. The Board also remanded for further development regarding upper and lower gastrointestinal disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis, thus service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis is granted.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his PTSD, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD or if it was caused by his military service.

Your claim for service connection for a low back disability, including lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and spinal fusion has been granted. You are now rated at 50% effective June 4, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's PTSD did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.,The claim for a breathing condition was denied because there is no current disability. The Board found that medical providers have not diagnosed the Veteran with this condition, and his complaints were associated with PTSD.,The claim for sleep apnea was denied because there is no current disability. The Board found that medical providers have not diagnosed the Veteran with this condition, and his complaints were associated with PTSD.,Service connection for acid reflux or GERD was denied because there is no current disability. The Board found that medical providers have not diagnosed the Veteran with this condition, and his complaints were associated with PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease, cervical strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and tinnitus, preclude him from following a substantially gainful occupation for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board granted entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(b).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep disability (including sleep apnea).

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right foot cold injury residuals including onychomycosis, tinea pedis, dystrophic nails, numbness, and arthralgia, and left foot cold injury residuals including onychomycosis, tinea pedis, dystrophic nails, numbness, and arthralgia are all granted. The Veteran's recurrent chest disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded for further development.,Service connection claims for knee, sleep apnea, neck, upper extremity neurological disorders, and PTSD-related conditions are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for additional development regarding service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and lumbosacral spine disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.