Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed them as a result.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of leiomyosarcoma due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of her appeal.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbosacral strain with DDD, bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 16, 2020 for lumbosacral strain with DDD. The Veteran's claim for these issues is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine arthritis, mild lumbosacral strain with an old healed fracture of the distal sacrum, and right hip degenerative joint disease (DJD) due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining updated medical records and conducting new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea, bilateral upper extremity polyneuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy have been granted. The appeals are remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection of asthma and sleep apnea, as well as his claims for service connection of bilateral upper and lower extremity polyneuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to herbicide exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including resulting obesity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, enlarged heart, respiratory disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), neurological disorder (Parkinsonism), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's service connection for an enlarged heart, respiratory disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), neurological disorder (Parkinsonism), right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical nexus evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including resulting obesity.

The Board has granted readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, shoulder disorders, sleep apnea, insomnia, hydrocephalus, cellulitis, atrial fibrillation, memory loss, and major depression. The evidence submitted is considered new and relevant to these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his grant of service connection for hypertension is granted. The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for hypertension, and for service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues for further development, including the rating of his right knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee degenerative arthritis, right shoulder condition, lumbosacral strain (claimed as back injury), sinusitis, and left ankle condition have all been dismissed. The claim of service connection for sinusitis was denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for leukemia, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability on an extraschedular basis and entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to February 27, 1998 due to inadequate development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear reasoning in the November 2019 VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during service. The claim is also being remanded for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Restless Leg Syndrome due to unclear causation and aggravation, requiring additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The VA examiner was asked to provide an opinion on whether OSA is related to service or a service-connected disability, and if so, which one.