Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee strains.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA is also remanded as it may be related to his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to outstanding medical records, need for additional examinations, and the need to obtain a VA opinion regarding his diabetes mellitus.,The Board is requesting that all relevant treatment records be obtained, including those from Dr. S.A., as well as any other private care providers who may have treated the Veteran since March 2019.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's skin conditions, including rosacea, dermatitis of the bilateral hands, carbuncle and furuncle of the leg, and actinic damage, as they are not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents or poison oak.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for the service-connected TBI, both effective from January 14, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, and left ankle sprain have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during her active duty service in the U.S. Navy and are related to her current condition.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not show a link between the condition and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or caused by his service-connected hypertension and coronary artery disease. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder, as well as the nonservice-connected pension benefits and TDIU claims due to insufficient evidence. The Appellant is required to undergo examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric conditions and any sleep disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further examination to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rhinitis, sinusitis, sleep apnea, dysentery, rectal bleeding, IBS, cystitis, arthritis, deviated septum with residuals, bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and a headache disability due to outstanding evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities or obesity.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on service-connected hypoxic disorder, mental health and cognitive disorder from May 23, 2016. He is also granted SMC from May 23, 2016.,The Board has referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU for the period from August 31, 2012 to May 23, 2016 on an extraschedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to the Director of Compensation Service.,The Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence showing he was unemployable solely based on his service-connected disabilities during the period from August 31, 2012 to May 23, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain lower back disability should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD was denied, and his claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded for further development.