Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and right knee disability have been granted service connection, with effective dates of March 16, 2020 for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including whether it is related to service, particularly his participation in toxic exposure risk activities while deployed in Southwest Asia. The Board also needs to address whether OSA was caused by or worsened by his service-connected PTSD and associated medications.

The Veteran's hypertension, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and vertebral fracture, explosive diarrhea, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and hydrocele repair during right spermatocele resection were all granted service connection. However, the initial rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and vertebral fracture was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to procedural defects.,These issues include claims for various conditions such as arthritis, anxiety and depression, and tumors.

The Veteran's OSA was awarded service connection effective December 11, 2018. The initial disability rating is 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for anorexia nervosa has been denied, and her claim for service connection for urinary incontinence is remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with left piriformis syndrome (lumbar spine disability) is restored effective April 23, 2019. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all pending claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals for increased disability ratings in multiple service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as back injury) due to a lack of an adequate rationale in the November 2020 VA medical opinion and a potential duty to assist error.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have begun during active service and has continued since, warranting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The claim for readjudication of sleep apnea was found not warranted due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, which includes VA treatment records from June 2021 where the Veteran was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to and/or aggravated by his service-connected residual left shoulder strain status post recurrent dislocation, old, healed fracture, and X-ray findings of old degenerative joint disease and residuals of fracture of right fifth finger. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal after receiving a favorable decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's PTSD has also been granted service connection, but the hypertension secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus remain pending issues.

The Veteran's claim for separate evaluations for sleep apnea and asthma has been denied as VA regulations prohibit the assignment of separate ratings for these conditions. The Board found that the disabilities present with overlapping symptomatology but are not mutually inclusive.