Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea should be remanded due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issue of service connection for memory problems with residuals was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back injury disability and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his eye disability (dry eye syndrome) due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The symptoms are attributed to his COPD and OSA.,Service connection for skin rash due to exposure to burn pits is dismissed without prejudice as there is no currently diagnosed active skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings from October 3, 2014, and September 21, 2022.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and remanded several issues of service connection due to his active military service. The issues of service connection for OSA, bilateral knee conditions, headaches, right-hand condition, left-hand condition, and left hip condition are now pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left hip strain, right hip strain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additional development is needed with addendum VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and renal disease due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is instructed to obtain new evidence and provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities prior to September 27, 2002 due to a need for further development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric, sleep apnea, and acid reflux conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, specifically regarding the service-connected lumbosacral strain and TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as it has been granted in full. The appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI, lumbosacral strain and right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, and PTSD evaluation. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss is denied. The claims of reopening service connection for cervical spine disability and right ear hearing loss, as well as the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability (claimed as low back pain), right sciatic nerve pain, gastrointestinal disability (irritable bowel syndrome), migraine headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae, obstructive sleep apnea, finger disability (right pinky finger dislocation), acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder), hair loss (alopecia), and skin rash are all denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by frequent urination or bladder incontinence and night sweats is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate opinions and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for a left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,Further investigation into the Veteran's treatment records from 2005-2010 is needed, as well as a new VA examination for his lumbosacral strain and an addendum opinion regarding his left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.,The claim for GERD is being remanded as there may be a secondary relationship between the acid reflux and his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.,The claim for sleep apnea is being remanded because of in-service breathing difficulties and nasal obstructions.,The claims for right knee, left knee, and shin splints are being remanded due to potential secondary relationships with his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.,The claim for a right hand disability is being remanded as there may be a relationship between the current condition and an in-service injury.,No effective date provided as these claims are still pending.,No rating assigned as these claims are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional information regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected asthma. The examiner must provide an opinion on this issue.