Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI with residuals, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, other specified trauma disorder, chronic lumbosacral muscular strain with degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, post traumatic synovitis left ankle, and TDIU are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including earlier effective dates for certain scars and sleep apnea. The claim for high cholesterol was denied as it is not a recognized disability for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbosacral spine strain is remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding range of motion.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on tension headaches was withdrawn and dismissed.,The claim of secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to PTSD was denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of April 28, 2014, and the rating assigned is 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and cervical spine disability due to further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia (previously claimed as sleep apnea) and cubital tunnel syndrome were denied. Service connection was granted for ocular migraines.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD and obesity does not cause or aggravate his current condition.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's conditions are not found to be proximately due or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for fracture of left ankle with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's SMC claim is being remanded due to the need for additional service connection determinations and rating actions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues regarding whether sleep apnea is secondary to PTSD. The decision will be reconsidered with a focus on obtaining an opinion from a clinician about the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his newly diagnosed sleep apnea.

Service connection is granted for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability. Service connection is denied for hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, varicose veins, and blood clots of the lower extremities.,The Veteran's service treatment records indicate an in-service left knee injury. A private medical opinion diagnosed a current left knee disability and opined that it was related to the in-service injury. The July 2017 VA examination indicated no relationship between the left knee disability and service, but this is not considered as the August 2022 private medical opinion is more persuasive.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA advisory medical opinion. The Veteran needs a new VA examination and addendum opinion to determine the nature, cause, and aggravation of his sleep apnea disability, including its relationship to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

All issues related to service connection have been either granted in full or finally denied by the Board without subsequent appeal.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to be afforded another VA medical examination regarding her service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and cervical strain. The issues of entitlement to an increased disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for IVDS, lumbosacral, and service connection for cervical strain are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete development of records.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure (hypertension), and several other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his claims for increased rating for left knee bursitis and service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, headaches, and sacral radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these claims as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for asthma, sleep apnea, and hypertension due to incomplete information in the previous VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide a new opinion considering the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and his presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during such service.