Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his conditions, including hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and ruptured right biceps.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is attributable to service and not due to combat. The Veteran's consistent reports of snoring and episodes of sleep apnea since his separation from service are considered.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition did not begin during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection was also denied for a lung condition. The Board found insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis and concluded there was no relationship between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were partially granted, with the lumbar spine disability receiving a temporary 20% rating from March 29, 2011 to June 12, 2018, while the cervical spine disability received a permanent 20% rating from March 29, 2011 to May 1, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vascular disease, OSA, CHF, pulmonary hypertension, arteriosclerotic vascular disease, GERD, renal disease and/or failure, and hemosiderosis of the liver, as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for DDD of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain prior to March 10, 2015 was denied as there was no evidence of forward flexion to less than 30 degrees or ankylosis.,A 40 percent rating was granted for DDD of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain since March 10, 2015. The Veteran's symptoms were characterized by pain and limited range of motion without evidence of ankylosis or IVDS requiring physician-prescribed bedrest.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each for sciatica in the right and left lower extremities from March 10, 2015 to September 6, 2021 were granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for dyshidrotic eczema and service connection for sleep apnea due to procedural issues, inadequate examination reports, and need for new opinions.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea was granted. The appeal to reopen the claim for right foot disability and tinnitus were denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to the appellant's withdrawal request.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Left Leg Disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea with constrictive bronchiolitis (lung disability) has been granted a rating of 100 percent, which is the highest possible rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his military service. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, osteoarthritis of the right hand, and osteoarthritis of the left hand have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lumbosacral spine disability and increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis due to additional evidence being added to his case file.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability and OSA, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by his PTSD. The case will be sent back for further development and an opinion from a pulmonologist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple new and material evidence-based claims that require additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, despite the severity of his conditions and multiple job losses.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining new evidence and scheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected disabilities, including obesity.