Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased rating of lumbosacral strain and service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran needs to be evaluated by a VA examiner to assess his current condition, including potential additional diagnoses such as degenerative disc disease. An addendum opinion is also needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition and his right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and has ordered remand for additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed OSA and Right Knee Disorder, as well as whether a TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected PTSD, specifically the Trazodone prescribed for PTSD. The Board finds a need for an addendum medical opinion to address this relationship.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right foot disorder, left foot disorder, LUE CTS, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, and OSA. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain with disc bulges, neural foraminal narrowing, joint hypertrophy, and intervertebral disc degeneration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to her military service. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the lack of an adequate rationale for the denial of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with the provision of a new VA opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for insomnia and sleep apnea secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there is no medical evidence establishing a causal relationship between the conditions and PTSD.

The Veteran's adopted child, S.L.M., is recognized as a helpless child due to her disabilities prior to the age of 18.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis has been remanded due to the need for an adequate addendum opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he is awarded an initial 30 percent rating for GERD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is remanded due to pre-decisional errors and the need for additional medical examination. The VA also needs to obtain private treatment records from Ketan B. Patel.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. His headaches are rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is not higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions was dismissed due to his disagreement with the denial of left flatfoot, which was granted in a prior decision. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding insufficient evidence of an in-service injury and credible accounts from medical providers contradicting his assertions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain (low back condition) has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent.,Service connection for neck condition, left arm radiculopathy, right arm radiculopathy, and sleep apnea have all been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and obesity. The decision also acknowledges that there was a previous denial of this claim.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 13, 2016 for the award of a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.