Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable due to the presence of a margin of error in audiometric testing.,The Veteran's radiculopathy and back conditions are remanded for additional examination to address flare-ups, functional impairment during flare-ups, and whether they meet the criteria for ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities, specifically his degenerative joint changes.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection, and an initial rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. Service connection for varicocele is denied.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol as the Appellant requested withdrawal prior to the issuance of a final decision.,The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep apnea, a skin disability, including vitiligo, and a bilateral foot disability, claimed as black toes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in active service. The examiner must consider and address the Veteran's reported symptoms during service, including his wife's statement about snoring upon return from deployment.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations for her back, hips, feet, and anxiety disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 1, 2015, as his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding no evidence of an in-service incurrence or diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, tinnitus, a sleep disorder (OSA), and allergic rhinitis have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral leg pain, and hypertension. The Veteran's hearing loss is denied as noncompensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The Veteran's impaired anal sphincter control associated with hemorrhoids is also rated as noncompensable.,For OSA and knee disorders, remand is required to obtain addendum opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service or caused by obesity resulting from service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide private medical records, including from Drs. Jeffery Landis, Manish Rai, Nisha Das, and Nasseri Clinic. TERA examinations are needed for sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, skin rash with blisters, and joint pain.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep condition is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbosacral disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and alopecia due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including onychomycosis, hypertension, bleeding ulcers, amblyopia (left eye injury), diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and heart disorder. The remand includes obtaining VA treatment records from VistA Imaging, preparing a TERA memorandum for Camp Lejeune service, and obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 100 percent disability rating, with total occupational and social impairment.,Bilateral hearing loss is not service connected as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for OSA is granted as it is at least as likely as not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there was no in-service incurrence and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current sleep apnea and service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's spinal stenosis is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a compensable rating is warranted.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of obstructive sleep apnea or a sleep disorder, but the Board has remanded for further development to determine if service connection is warranted.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a neck nerve disorder and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if service connection is warranted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as obesity. The claims are being returned for further development.