Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's melanoma and eczematoid dermatitis are granted service connection. The Board finds the asthma, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, headaches, and OSA issues need further development due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, foot, hearing loss, and low back disabilities have been reopened. Bilateral knee and foot disabilities are granted, while the denial of bilateral shoulder disability remains unchanged.,Bilateral hearing loss and OSA claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his right knee disability and sleep apnea. Separate ratings may be assigned based on the findings.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining outstanding medical records and readjudicating the claims on appeal. The Veteran is required to submit or authorize VA to obtain all non-VA medical records related to his claims, including those from a private primary care physician he was seeing since 2009.

Service connection for COPD is granted from August 10, 2022, due to exposure to fine particulate matter during service in the Persian Gulf. The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension are not rated higher.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of secondary service connection for low back disorder related to his right ankle disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease either caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further development and an updated opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his weight gain and if that weight gain contributed to his development of sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for back and PTSD, as well as claims for sleep apnea, bilateral ankle, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The VA will conduct additional examinations and gather medical records to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there is no persuasive medical evidence indicating that OSA originated in or was caused by service. The Veteran reported symptoms such as headaches and difficulty sleeping during service, but these were not linked to OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for sinusitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not begin in or is related to the Veteran's military service and was not caused by his service-connected PTSD with MDD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome is related to his service-connected PTSD, and whether his heart condition is due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is directly related to service or if it is aggravated by his service-connected asthma, sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine these issues.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10% prior to September 4, 2015. From September 4, 2015, to June 1, 2016, a 20% rating was granted. Since June 1, 2016, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 40%. The radiculopathy of both lower extremities has not met criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The respiratory disability is found to be due to service, the other conditions are found to be secondary to the service-connected respiratory disability.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to an inadequate VA opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea as secondary to a psychiatric disability due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD.