Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a need for a VA examination and consideration of presumed exposure to fine, particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's psoriasis is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under either the old or new regulations.,For his other trauma and stress related disorder, the Veteran seeks an increased rating to 50 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support such a rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the etiology and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations in the prior rating decision.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a right calf leg disability with loss of muscle and cramps, other than right calf cellulitis and abscess is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and compensation were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's skin conditions are related to his military service, including Agent Orange exposure. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, but has remanded the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his in-service symptoms and exposure. The issue of aggravation of PTSD by sleep apnea remains unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluation of arteriosclerotic heart disease and service connection for cardiac pacemaker implementation is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. His claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to PTSD is now granted.,The Board has found that the Veteran's hearing loss may have worsened since his last examination, and a new VA examination is required to determine if it meets the regulatory requirements for a disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a new VA examination. The case will be considered further based on the results of this development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD medication.

The Veteran's claims for sinus disorder with headaches and allergic rhinitis, both presumed to be due to exposure to particulate matter in the Persian Gulf during service, are granted. The claim for muscle and joint pain (claimed as fibromyalgia) is remanded for a new VA examination. The claim for sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the condition did not manifest in service or within one year of separation and was not otherwise causally related to military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent from January 25, 2010. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded her claim for an increased rating of neck numbness (neuritis) due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature and etiology of her condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine are denied as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nerve disability remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, CAD, HTN, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PN of the upper and lower extremities, OSA, ventricular arrhythmia, and an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD. The appeals are now pending with the AOJ for further review.

The Board has found that the case needs to be returned for further review due to new evidence submitted after the initial decision. The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection are being remanded.