Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's back disability and sciatic nerve disability are granted with increased ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively, effective November 7, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not proximately due to a service-connected disability (his PTSD), which led to obesity and subsequently developed into his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was granted, with a rating of 40 percent. The claims for increased ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder (MDD). The evidence is in relative equipoise, with multiple opinions supporting a link between MDD and OSA.

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

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current OSA is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's right ankle ligamentous injury, major depressive disorder, TBI, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea are all rated at their maximum allowable levels. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency due to inadequate medical opinions and duty to assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine injury, back disorder and OSA. The Veteran's loss of use of both feet due to his ankle disorders is also granted, with a combined rating of 80 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires an examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there was no evidence showing that OSA manifested during active duty service or was related to his military service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claims for erectile dysfunction, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension were all addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there is no persuasive weight of evidence showing that OSA had its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and restoration of a 20 percent rating for Left Upper Extremity Radiculopathy affecting the upper and middle radicular groups is denied. The matter related to the earlier effective date for LUE radiculopathy is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and multiple nodules on his lungs. The reasons include a failure to provide a VA examination prior to the decision, as well as the need for a TERA-specific examination due to presumed environmental toxin exposures.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely substantive appeal following the issuance of a September 2019 Statement of the Case (SOC).