Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted service connection.,The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently endued bilateral big toe and lower back disorders, as well as their relationship to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection are REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's low back disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's chronic lung disease and sleep apnea are related to service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions, but the claims for non-allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's cause of death was related to herbicide agent exposure during service. Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea and denied for a heart condition. The compensable rating for erectile dysfunction remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, headache disorder, and facial pain. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea, psychiatric disorder separate from PTSD with insomnia disorder, sexual dysfunction disability secondary to PTSD with insomnia disorder, and vertigo for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is now rated at 40 percent, effective from November 5, 2009. The right hip disabilities remain rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine is denied.,Additional issues related to service connection and increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent effective June 20, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a rating for his right index finger scar were all denied by the Board.

The Veteran's service connection claims for major depression, sleep apnea, and headaches have been granted. However, the Veteran is still seeking higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, and major depression, as well as a TDIU. The Board has found that remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran required aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities prior to his death.

The Veteran's headaches started in service and have continued. The Board finds the Veteran and service treatment records persuasive, finding that his headaches had their onset in service and have continued following service.

The Veteran's OSA was granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities, as well as the right and left shin disabilities, were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a skin rash of the face, arms and feet due to additional evidence being added to the file. The Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant is denied as he was awarded eligibility.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service event or disease related to his OSA and that it was not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his lumbosacral spine, right hip, and ruptured diaphragm repair scar disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.