Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The issues include headaches, PTSD, brain aneurysm, TBI, balance disability, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, dental disability, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right thumb disability, left thumb disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is found to be the primary cause of his Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).,The Veteran has been diagnosed with Psoriasis, a disability of the Toes, Disability of the Left Hand and Fingers, Disability of the Right Hand and Fingers, Back Condition, and Loss of Hair. These conditions are all considered to be directly related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's recurrent lumbosacral strain prior to November 21, 2016 is rated at 20 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's recurrent lumbosacral strain from November 21, 2016 is rated at 40 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition did not pre-exist his periods of active duty and was not otherwise related to service. The decision also noted other factors such as obesity and heart conditions which may have contributed to the development of the condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and sleep apnea disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and insomnia) has been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active military service.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of sleep apnea, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a torn deltoid muscle of the left arm, to include as secondary to service-connected left humerus injury, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 16, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and OSA, but the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, service connection for sleep apnea, and TDIU due to unclear nature and severity of his psychiatric disability and lack of an examination for his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of her back, knee, and shoulder conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for increased ratings can be adjudicated. The case must be remanded to obtain VA treatment records, SSA records, and a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated nerve disorders.

The Board denied service connection for Meralgia Paresthetica of the left and right lower extremities, hypertension, asthma, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinus disorder, respiratory disorder, and sleep disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a thyroid disorder, but the claims for OSA and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is being considered for the Veteran's thyroid disorder, which he believes began in service. The Board found that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, high blood pressure, and headaches have been remanded. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD and mental conditions) are denied due to lack of prior unadjudicated claims. The effective date for hearing loss is denied as it was received within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was neither incurred nor aggravated during a period of active service, and is not etiologically related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension is rated at 30 percent. Both ratings are denied.