Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and recognized M.M. as the Veteran's spouse for additional dependency compensation, but only effective from February 13, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied. The Board found the level of impairment to be most analogous to mild incomplete paralysis. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded due to failure to obtain relevant service treatment records and VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of April 3, 2017, for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The decision finds that the earliest date of receipt of a claim was April 3, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including buttocks condition, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left arm swelling, left leg condition, and left shoulder condition. The AOJ is instructed to consider whether these conditions are related to lymphedema and/or venous insufficiency, as well as any potential aggravation by obesity.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a higher initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during service or is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error for an examination and readjudication of the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his active service and is related to his service-connected depression. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner is required to consider the Veteran's reports and exposures during service, as well as his current service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the period from March 19, 2012, to August 1, 2018, for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and medications prescribed therefor.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to VA for these purposes.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to February 25, 2019. The Veteran's disability was found to be manifested by forward flexion to 50 degrees with no additional functional limitation due to pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. A supplemental VA opinion is needed to address these issues.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, sleep apnea, and COPD, as well as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back pain and ankle weakness, as there are outstanding records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA opinions are required to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development and adjudication are necessary before the claim on appeal can be adjudicated. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded to allow for an addendum opinion addressing whether his OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma and/or anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there was no direct causation between the conditions.