Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The effective date for service connection of radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities was set to March 16, 2020. The Veteran's increased ratings for these conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40% since April 19, 2018. The rating was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again for etiology, including whether it is related to service and/or her hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and post-traumatic stress disorder with unspecified depressive disorder have not prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for malignant liposarcoma and its residuals, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether this disability is related to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with malignant liposarcoma with residual scarring during service when he had a skin growth removed.

The Board has decided to remand the TDIU issue due to inadequate development and an incomplete review of the claims file.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including monoclonal gammopathy, sleep apnea, stomach lining thickening, bilateral hearing loss, hydrocele of the testicle, and right hip scar. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches was reopened but not granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations of service-connected left knee instability, DJD with leg length discrepancy, extension, and right knee strain as the Veteran withdrew his claims. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, and a Mood Disorder) are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating decisions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is related to his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracic spine disability and sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to incomplete information in previous medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea and a thoracolumbar spine condition. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being examined again, with particular attention to whether it was aggravated by PTSD or obesity. For his back condition, an opinion on whether it was aggravated by diabetic neuropathy will be sought.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, but has remanded it for further development and an addendum medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of his current sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea (OSA) as it was not incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and venous insufficiency of the bilateral lower extremities are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lower back disorder is secondary to his service-connected left rhomboid muscle strain.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be returned for further development.