Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left hand ring and little finger fracture with ankylosis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome, and degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA was not incurred during or related to his active-duty service and denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder are remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination and opinions regarding his claimed sleep apnea disability, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms required only a CPAP machine and did not meet criteria for higher ratings due to chronic respiratory failure or other severe manifestations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including paralysis of the sciatic nerve and lumbosacral strain, are being remanded due to a failure to obtain complete medical records from Dr. K.D. and an inability to assess range of motion in the Veteran's lumbar spine.

The Veteran's migraine disability is rated at 50 percent from December 10, 2015. The rating reflects very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is secondary to his service-connected Asthma, and therefore grants service connection for OSA.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there was no prior application or notice of intent to file a claim before April 22, 2020.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service.,His obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends started during service and is related to his now service-connected chronic sinusitis, has also been granted service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service connected, with the opinion based on in-service snoring and subsequent symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and further development is needed.

The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for skin cancer, as it pertains to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's right and left knee meniscal tears with dislocated semilunar cartilage are rated at 20 percent each, effective September 24, 2019. The Veteran's left knee instability is also rated at 10 percent, effective September 24, 2019. However, the lumbosacral strain to include degenerative arthritis of the spine remains denied.

The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical examination and opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's low back disabilities, particularly whether they are related to service or caused by his service-connected bilateral flat feet.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to his military service. The OSA was first diagnosed many years after service, and there are no medical opinions linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for elevated liver enzymes, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sleep apnea, deviated septum, gastritis, neck disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, deviated septum, gastritis, and neck disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms during and after active service persisted.