Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for BPH, cataracts, and OSA as secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that his conditions were related to service or herbicide exposure.,Service connection was denied on the grounds that there was no direct link between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as his non-service-connected ankle and feet conditions also limit his employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for additional disabilities caused by neurotoxic exposure is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims. The Board grants service connection for sleep apnea and denies service connection for insomnia (as separate from PTSD).,The Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, and muscle spasms of the right thigh and low back are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary service connection theory.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA had its onset in, or is otherwise related to, his military service. The VA examiner needs to address the Veteran's buddy statements reporting gasping for air during service.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbosacral strain due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding its etiology and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a surgical scar status post lumbar decompression L4-S1 is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left hip disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.,For each condition, the Board found no nexus between the current disability and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 15, 2019 is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU prior to April 15, 2019 are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted a 40% rating, effective April 30, 2012. Other service-connected disabilities are denied or remanded.

The Veteran's skin symptoms are attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of cherry angiomas/hemangiomas, which is not related to service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's memory loss to his military service or any diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's fatigue is linked to obstructive sleep apnea, which is not directly related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his in-service injuries and conditions.,Service connection is established for the following conditions: left ankle disability, OSA, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacy of the previous VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and remanded the issues of service connection for eye impairment and left wrist impairment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis due to Gulf War environmental hazards and for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 30, 2016 to October 28, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities preventing the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to August 27, 2020, is also denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and TDIU are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including psychiatric disorders, hip disabilities, shoulder and knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, foot disabilities, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, and sleep apnea due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service.