Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathies have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent at any point.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected major depressive disorder. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion on these issues.

An effective date of March 31, 2006, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, lumbar spine is granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disorder prior to November 14, 2012, is denied.,An effective date of November 14, 2012, but no earlier, for the grant of a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, lumbar spine is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and whether it is related to his service-connected TMJ and/or dyspnea with exertion.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right hip condition are not service-connected.,His left hip strain is not rated higher than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the claims file after previous decisions and requires further review. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded for readjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and obstructive sleep apnea. The skin disability claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking current skin conditions to service, including herbicide exposure. The obstructive sleep apnea claim was also denied as there is no evidence it was incurred in or related to service.,The Board found that the Veteran's current skin disabilities are not connected to his military service and did not arise from herbicide exposure. The obstructive sleep apnea claim was denied because there is insufficient evidence linking the condition to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further evaluation to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's statements and private treatment records supported his continuous back symptoms since an in-service injury, leading to a determination of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it had its onset during active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his obstructive sleep apnea. The VA needs to obtain a more detailed medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy due to lack of a current diagnosis. The cases of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all remanded as the VA examinations have not been conducted yet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD with bipolar disorder and substance abuse disorder), and rheumatoid arthritis. The appeal was also withdrawn for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis A and C.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied, with the condition not having onset in service and being unrelated to service-connected PTSD.,The Board has remanded the issue of vertigo (Meniere's Syndrome), requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and has determined that it is secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and binge eating disorder. The Veteran's current disability of sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in July 2020, and needs a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's upper airway resistance syndrome was incurred in or caused by service.