Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU, and remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The decision is pending further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic tuberculosis (TB) was denied due to lack of a clinical diagnosis. New and material evidence has not been received since the last final denial.,Service connection for a back disability is reopened based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, but the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current disability to service or any other condition. The claim remains denied.,The effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be earlier than January 14, 2016, as the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes prior to that date.,Further development is needed on the issues of right knee disability, left knee disability, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other condition.,The issue of skin cysts remains remanded as there is insufficient information regarding its onset in service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of all issues related to service connection for various conditions, as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during his military service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for OSA is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain, along with associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted service connection.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain are also granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, other than residuals of meningitis to include organic brain disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, so the cases are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active service or his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal of liver damage and migraine headaches service connection claims are dismissed.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, is granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea) and fatigue, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not due to service or an undiagnosed illness. The Board also found that his claimed conditions are duplicative of existing service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic headache disability is remanded for further examination and opinion. The examiner must determine if the condition is an undiagnosed illness, MUCMI, or related to service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee meniscal tear, and right knee meniscal tear due to service connection issues. The cases are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical questions and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, alcoholism, and sleep apnea due to unresolved issues or insufficient evidence.

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 current diagnosis and his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to be of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the claim for TDIU because the Veteran has consistently engaged in substantial gainful employment throughout the relevant period on appeal.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The bilateral foot disorder and back disorder are denied.