Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lower back injury is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.,The Veteran's bilateral flatfeet are rated at 30% since October 16, 2020. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date is remanded due to lack of compliance with remand directives.,Service connection for chronic headaches, allergic rhinitis (chronic nose bleeding), and sleep apnea syndrome is remanded as the RO did not substantially comply with remand directives.,Service connection for cervical spine pain and right jaw injury with residuals is also remanded due to lack of compliance with remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability had its onset in service and continues to persist, granting her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bumps on his eyelids, skin rashes, and sleep disordered breathing are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for headaches due to inadequate examinations and new evidence being needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia due to inadequate medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle postoperative synovectomy, to include degenerative arthritis and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, is found to have acted as an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Service connection for OSA secondary to these joint disabilities has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to service-connected atrial fibrillation. The claim will be reviewed again with additional development, including obtaining clarification from a private provider and an opinion from VA.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claim for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further examination and opinion regarding her service-connected disabilities and their impact on her ability to use her lower extremities, as well as her eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle or adaptive equipment.

The Board has dismissed appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection of erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use. Service connection for PTSD is granted, with an initial 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus type II. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that there is at least an equipoise of evidence in favor of its onset during active duty.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, finding that the medical evidence did not support such a higher rating due to limited forward flexion and lack of ankylosis or IVDS.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate development of his exposure history and potential etiology.,Specifically, the Board found that there was insufficient information regarding the Veteran's alleged exposures to environmental toxins during service. The claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are all remanded due to this lack of development.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and the TDIU rating claim for the period from July 15, 2015 to June 8, 2017. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea was related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, was denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 13, 2017, and a rating in excess of 70 percent from that date.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was denied an initial compensable rating prior to December 30, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's claim for a chronic disability of the right shoulder is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to incomplete development of evidence and need for a medical opinion.

The claims for service connection for arthritis, memory loss, OSA, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, colonic polyps with a history of colon cancer, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The claim for service connection for arthritis has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to conflicting opinions and lack of clear rationale in previous VA examinations.