Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn led to his obstructive sleep apnea. The VA examiner needs to provide more specific and detailed opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD and obstructive sleep apnea due to conflicting medical evidence regarding current diagnoses, need for a TERA opinion, and potential service connection based on presumed exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the necessary VA examinations. The PACT Act does not apply as the Veteran is not a Persian Gulf Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, but has remanded these issues due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep disability, bilateral knee disability, cervical spine disability, and left hand disability due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship to his service-connected disabilities. The VA is required to obtain additional treatment records and provide adequate medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and rating decisions, including service connection claims and initial ratings for various conditions. The Veteran's sleep apnea remains at a 50% rating due to the use of a CPAP machine but no evidence of respiratory failure or cor pulmonale. For thoracic muscle strain, the Veteran received a 20% rating based on limited range of motion. GERD and allergic rhinitis were granted initial ratings of 30% and 40%, respectively. Migraines are rated at 50% effective January 2, 2018. Service connection claims for hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and arthralgias, sinusitis, TBI, vertigo and dizziness, memory loss and concentration, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right and left knee disorders due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues, including those related to the right forearm/elbow disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and residuals of head injury, are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The back condition claim was reopened but remains denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected asthma. The OSA is found to be aggravated by his asthma.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder. Service connection is granted for this condition. The issue of service connection for OSA is remanded due to lack of a VA opinion.

The Board granted a disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) from February 15, 2023. The Veteran's other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disabilities are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to wait the full 90 days prior to issuing its decision. The Veteran's OSA is related to service, but weight gain from his service-connected disabilities may be a substantial factor in causing his condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim, hypertension claim, erectile dysfunction claim, lower back condition claim, migraine headaches claim, right knee condition claim, and left knee condition claim are all being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding earlier effective dates for the grants of a Total Disability Rating due to Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is remanded. The RO should send the Veteran a Statement of the Case (SOC) as to these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a back disability, including whether it is related to active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions have been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as OSA secondary to PTSD. Service connection is denied for memory loss.,Service connection was established based on chronic in-service symptoms that have persisted post-service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and residual scar of pilonidal cyst removal were received by VA on September 22, 2015. The Board denied the requests for effective dates prior to this date.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain was also remanded.