Sleep apnea decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, as well as whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding increased ratings and effective dates for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine, GERD, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, vitiligo, tinnitus, anal fissures, a jaw disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and body convulsions, specifically addressing whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the cases of fibromyalgia and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected OSA is granted, and he is awarded TDIU from August 9, 2018. The low back disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and migraine headaches are found to be disabling enough for a TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain has not been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, ankylosis (favorable or unfavorable) of the entire thoracolumbar spine or the entire spine. Therefore, his claim for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Hearing Loss - Right Ear, and Sinus Disorder have been granted.,However, the claim for a compensable disability rating for hearing loss in the left ear is being remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a back condition was granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the same condition is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and workman's compensation documents.

The Board has granted service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability and a recurrent lumbar spine (low back) disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not timely filed, more than 60 days after the January 2018 Statement of the Case and one year after the March 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability has been withdrawn.,The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and lumbar radiculopathy have been dismissed as moot due to the maximum schedular ratings being assigned.,The Veteran was granted compensable disability ratings (20%) for scars on both hands, effective February 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development being required. The issues include various conditions such as knee pain, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, a sleep disorder, and neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung condition due to asbestos exposure, bilateral hearing loss condition, lumbar laminectomy and discectomy, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome are not service-connected. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a headache disability is dismissed. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected.,Right and left ear hearing loss are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability has been withdrawn. Service connection for hypertension is granted pursuant to the PACT Act, but the claim will be remanded for further development regarding other theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The tinnitus has a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, while the bilateral hearing loss is noncompensable.

The Board has expanded the claim for service connection to include chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorders.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions and exposure to potential hazards.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is related to his military service.