Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Degenerative Arthritis of Lumbar Spine, and a Pelvic Disability. The decision found that the Veteran's current sleep disorder did not have its onset during active duty or was otherwise related to service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability as it did not manifest within one year following service discharge and was not caused by his service-connected Dercum's disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as there are insufficient records and opinions regarding whether his sleep apnea is related to service or caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to incomplete records, including missing service personnel records and STRs. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during service are considered, as well as a recent sleep study diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for OSA and prostate disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to her bladder disability was reopened and granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not establish that it began during or is related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such disability and that any symptoms are already encompassed in his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a headache disability and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of sleep apnea and GERD, as they involve secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed.,New and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and the Board also grants service connection for OSA. The decision on OSA will be remanded to obtain an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have, as likely as not, precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history since March 12, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease was denied. The claims for an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher, from April 1, 2015 to December 21, 2021 for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from December 22, 2021 were granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for low back scar was denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim from August 11, 2020 was granted.

The Board has decided that the claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety), sarcoidosis, squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the head and neck), residuals of a tonsillectomy, scar status post thoracotomy, right ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD and remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral disc disease and right shoulder traumatic bursitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected pneumoconiosis, asthma, and sleep apnea was granted a 60 percent disability rating from January 5, 2015 to December 2, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to potential herbicide exposure in Okinawa.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis with painful motion of thumb and 5th metacarpal, right hand is denied.,Service connection for sinusitis has been granted based on presumed exposure to burn pits during service in Southwest Asia.,Claims for service connection for a right leg disability and left leg disability are dismissed as they have been rendered moot by the grant of service connection for fibromyalgia.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is remanded due to lack of current diagnosis and need for further examination.,Service connection for dermatitis and rosacea is remanded due to need for additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to service, including exposure to burn pits in Iraq.