Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities, and the medical records did not support a secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for hypertension and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied. The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's sleep apnea and sinusitis claims are being reviewed again as there is insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA and GERD due to a lack of VA examination and inadequate medical opinion. The Veteran's exposure during service in Kuwait is considered, but further development is needed.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The issues of rating in excess of 30 percent for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, and increased ratings for various disabilities including diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, bilateral cataracts, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, coronary artery disease (CAD), PTSD, major depressive disorder, insomnia disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and scars from surgeries have all been denied. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance has also been denied.

The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a maximum initial disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was received after the March 2019 Statement of the Case and remands the case for readjudication, including consideration of this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder caused or aggravated his central sleep apnea and/or sleep disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for GERD and OSA. The case is now before the Board again.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right thumb degenerative joint disease is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, joint and muscle pain, a disability manifested by memory loss, depression, and anxiety, dizziness, left knee disability, right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claims for lumbosacral strain, cluster headaches, hepatitis B service connection, and TDIU can be decided. The Veteran's VA examinations were not conducted due to his failure to attend the scheduled appointments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and service connection for OSA. The Veteran's representative argued that his self-medication with alcohol led to the development of both conditions, which may be related to hazing during military service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied as they are not related to his military service.,For the remaining issues (right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, loss of use of the right lower extremity, and loss of use of the left lower extremity), the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's back disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathies are rated at 40 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent respectively. A TDIU is granted effective since May 1, 2021.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches.,Effective March 28, 2017, the Veteran's low back disorder was rated at 20 percent and his psoriasis was granted service connection. The radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities were also granted service connection effective March 28, 2017.,The Veteran is denied an earlier effective date for these grants.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further development and readjudication.