Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his condition, including during flare-ups or after repeated use over time.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for acne with scarring and OSA due to insufficient medical opinions regarding aggravation of the conditions during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea were denied. The earlier effective date of July 30, 2007, for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) was granted.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for porphyria cutanea tarda is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and torn rotator cuff of the right shoulder are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since September 8, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. Effective May 16, 2014, a rating of 20 percent was granted for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and opinion are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left shoulder disability and sleep apnea, as well as whether they are related to his active military service. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a remand for further development on several service connection issues. The lumbosacral strain claim was denied as there is no evidence that it meets the criteria for a higher rating. The allergic rhinitis claim was also denied since it does not meet the criteria for a 10% rating due to lack of obstruction or polyps. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus, skin cancer, scars, and headaches, have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment for the entire period on appeal. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for Crohn's disease, hearing loss, and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and updated evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete treatment records. The Veteran's respiratory condition is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since December 21, 2020. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and after are denied.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is related to service, but he does not have a diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disability (other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder) is granted. The claims for PTSD, ED, migraines, seizure disorder (also claimed as epilepsy), and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not related to his service-connected PTSD with MDD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show a current disability meeting VA criteria.