Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn, while the remaining claims are being reviewed again due to lack of recent VA treatment records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, an eye disability (benign vitreous floaters), sleep apnea, and a heart disorder. The claim for PTSD was also dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service symptoms and current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's range of motion from March 3, 2006 to October 13, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to Gulf War exposure, due to errors in previous decisions and the need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD has been granted service connection. The left foot metatarsalgia is also found to be related to the service-connected left ankle disability.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's adiposis dolorosa/Decrum's disease, to include neurological manifestations and scars, is found to be of service origin. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss by VA standards.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine condition have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's skin disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his active duty service and any of his diagnosed skin conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and bilateral flatfeet have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus has been remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been remanded for further examination and analysis.

Service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and right leg radiculopathy is granted effective November 5, 2008.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, headaches, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to cervical spine degenerative arthritis are all granted effective November 5, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial evaluations for sarcoidosis with splenomegaly and sleep apnea, as well as the right little finger ulnar deviation. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to address whether service-connected PTSD or TBI aggravated the Veteran's sleep apnea and if obesity caused by service-connected disabilities (PTSD and TBI) is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The decision was based on the lack of objective evidence of complaints consistent with sleep apnea during service and the absence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service sleep problems and his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination, and requests further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea, both presumed to be due to Gulf War Syndrome. Service connection was also denied for polyarthralgia (joint pain).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened, and additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his PTSD, headaches, right ear hearing loss, CFS, fibromyalgia, IBS, GERD, sleep apnea, and TBI. The Veteran also has new claims for service connection for these conditions.