Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to the lack of an adequate medical opinion addressing the issue of nexus for the Veteran's current back condition. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as he failed to cooperate with VA's efforts in obtaining information and evidence needed to substantiate his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as evidenced by his employment history and the lack of cooperation in obtaining information for his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The VA examiners concluded that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran’s sleep apnea and either his active duty service or his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of venereal disease and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of service connection for prostate cancer, loss of teeth, hemorrhoids, sleep apnea, and arthritis in the back and right hip are remanded due to outstanding development needs.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his service connection claim for a lumbosacral strain is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of adequate medical opinions. The issues include frequent fevers, chills, and sweats; recurrent tonsillitis and pharyngitis; sleep apnea secondary to PTSD; hypogonadism secondary to left testicular varicocele; and a respiratory condition (including asthma, sinusitis, and rhinitis).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral upper and lower extremities has been granted but does not warrant an increased rating as it is currently evaluated based on mild to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea, as it was not adequately addressed in the previous remand. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements and buddy statement regarding loud snoring.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, effective February 1, 2017.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as it is caused by his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied because it is not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and secondary service connection for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The conditions are found to be related to active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her lumbosacral strain, right ankle, left lower radiculopathy and right wrist conditions, are considered one disability with a combined rating of 60 percent. The Board finds that the functional impairment associated with these disabilities precludes the Veteran from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity prior to June 4, 2018, is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity from June 4, 2018, is rated at 20 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran is not found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's OSA was not incurred in service and is not related to a service-connected disability. The appeal for both direct and secondary service connection for OSA is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and sleep apnea. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the conditions to his military service, including herbicide exposure or antimalarial medication use.