Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right ankle strain is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Bilateral hearing loss has not been established as a disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and OSA have not been granted.,Service connection for headaches has not been granted.,The Veteran's left ankle strain is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has found that remand is necessary for adequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar spine, and respiratory disabilities. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his already determined service-connected allergic rhinitis. The claims for diabetes mellitus and colon cancer are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicides or burn pits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is granted as new and material evidence has been received, and the condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence, including VA and private treatment records, and an addendum opinion from VA examiners addressing the onset of his disabilities during service.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinea pedis and has remanded the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability during or related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder and recurrent depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection is granted for asthma and rhinitis, with a presumption of exposure to particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,The Veteran's vertigo and dizziness are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and opinion on whether the Veteran has a current disability, including all diagnoses, if any. The examiner must address the Veteran's assertions of pertinent symptomatology and consider secondary aggravation by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its severity. Additionally, the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The Board also found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a sleep disorder, including OSA and insomnia, but remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and pulmonary heart disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during his active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board also remanded several issues including entitlement to initial ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as the reopening of claims for PTSD, right knee disability (now status post total replacement), and left knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. The Veteran's left knee shin splints are also rated at 10 percent as of November 3, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain pertinent medical records and to afford the Veteran with examinations regarding his heart condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, and finger condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's sleep disorder, including his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran needs updated medical records and a VA examination to determine if his sleep disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development. The issues of service connection for various other disabilities remain pending.