Sleep apnea decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to a lack of current diagnosis.,Service connection is remanded for sleep apnea syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, right leg nerve damage, headaches, and neck disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and sinusitis due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must attempt to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of service (November 1957 to August 1970) and the latter part of his second period of service (December 1978 to May 1986).

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant higher ratings based on his subjective complaints.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful occupation during the period of April 19, 2021, to December 6, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple conditions, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, gastrointestinal disability, bilateral wrist disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea, was denied. The appeals were remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied, and his PTSD disability rating was granted at a 70 percent level.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have initially manifested during active duty, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate VA examination and medical opinion for rating purposes.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his lumbosacral strain, as it was found in a previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD on a presumptive basis due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War era.,Service connection was denied for hair loss, hiatal hernia, sleep apnea, and IBS as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a recurrent sleep disability to include obstructive sleep apnea, an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for a deviated nasal septum is granted, and his PTSD initial rating from March 31, 2017, is granted with a condition of remand on the issue of higher initial rating for a deviated nasal septum.,The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warranting a 50% rating is effective as of March 31, 2017. The claim for an earlier effective date for the deviated nasal septum remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder. The VA will need to obtain a thorough opinion from an appropriate clinician addressing both causation and aggravation of the condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hemorrhoids due to procedural errors. The Veteran's current symptoms are being considered, as well as potential links to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the left foot fourth metatarsal fracture, and service connection for herniated liver incarcerated surgery, left foot tendon, broken left hand, bilateral foot skin condition, stomach surgery, OSA, and GERD disabilities has been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and neck disorders due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and high blood pressure due to procedural errors in previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are each granted initial ratings of at least 20 percent. The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis is granted an initial rating of 10 percent.