Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need further medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began in service or is related to his in-service complaints of wheezing and difficulty breathing at night.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, left sciatic radiculopathy, and right sciatic radiculopathy have been granted with effective dates of August 18, 2017.

Service connection for recurrent right knee injury residuals is granted. The Veteran's left hand and thumb neuropathy, GERD, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or anal leakage with rectal scar, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.,The Board has also determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish whether the Veteran's complex obstructive sleep apnea or esophageal sphincter damage are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's OSA is related to his PTSD, but no VA examination or opinion was obtained regarding whether it is directly related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his service, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and right knee ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal debridement residuals.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, finding that OSA is likely due to his service-connected condition.

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

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was denied, and the current rating of 10 percent remains unchanged. A subsequent increase to 20 percent is also denied.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain with arthritis remains at 10 percent, and the claim for service connection of sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection due to his withdrawal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining claims for tinnitus, multiple joint disorders (shoulders, elbow, back, knees, ankles, feet, toes), and radiculopathy were denied as not supported by evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of PTSD and sleep apnea are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and the need to substantiate exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no probative evidence showing the condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the condition originated during active military service.