Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and he has been granted service connection for this condition.,His erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has also been granted. However, the claim for sleep apnea remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is directly related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, is granted as service connected. Lower back pain and sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and vertigo due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for exotropia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder have been denied. The effective dates for these awards are set at the date of claim.,An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not show an in-service event or injury related to this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for another examination to address the nature and etiology of his condition, including consideration of lay statements regarding exposure to burn pits.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is remanded for another examination to address the nature and etiology of his condition, including consideration of lay statements regarding combat operations and full battle equipment use.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating prior to September 22, 2009. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable solely by reason of his service-connected disabilities and thus, entitlement to a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee conditions and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The issues of TDIU are also being remanded due to the interrelated nature with the other claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a closed comminuted T-condylar fracture of the left humerus was reopened and granted. Claims for other fractures were denied, as well as a claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's back condition was granted a 40 percent rating from April 27, 2016 to November 12, 2020. The claim for an increased rating beyond this period is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, sleep apnea, and diabetes as due to service-connected ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the current state of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and military personnel verification.

The Board has remanded four issues: increased ratings for left knee and right ankle disorders, service connection for sleep apnea, and a TDIU claim. The reasons include inadequate examinations and the need for addendum opinions on PTSD's impact on sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service.,Service connection was granted for retinitis pigmentosa, with the Board finding that the condition worsened during service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. The claims for low back, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence linking the sleep apnea to the diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD is denied. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria as he did not have a constant need for aid and attendance, primarily due to his nonservice-connected back disability.

The Board denied service connection for sleep impairment, finding that the Veteran's sleep disorder is not related to his military service and is instead linked to a service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD).