Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

The Board dismissed all appeals as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea and an initial compensable rating for bilateral glaucoma. The Veteran's OSA did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale, nor did it require a tracheostomy. His glaucoma was found to have no impairment of visual acuity, field, or muscle function and has not required continuous medication.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, right toe disorder, hearing loss, and eczema as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as chronic obstructive sleep apnea, has been granted. The appeals for increased evaluations of the low back disability and radiculopathy of the legs, as well as for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete factual basis. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from August 1, 2012. The TDIU is granted subject to the statutes and regulations governing the payment of compensation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is being remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding a direct theory of service connection. A new medical opinion is needed to address the etiology and relationship between his current sleep apnea and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for low back disability, residuals of a right arm burn, left knee disability, sleep apnea, pulmonary embolism, diabetes mellitus, type II, and insomnia. The appeals are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes.

The Veteran's chronic thoracolumbar spine strain and lumbosacral strain have been rated at 10 percent since September 2014. The most recent VA examination found the combined range of motion to be 234 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5237.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of compliance with previous directives and incomplete development regarding radiation exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease status-post surgery, finding that the current conditions are not related to active service. Service connection was also denied for right foot drop due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and headaches due to new evidence showing a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea as it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran’s service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's left ventricular hypertrophy is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. His right knee instability is granted at a 30 percent rating from March 25, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the issues of TDIU and SMC because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have resulted in a combined rating of at least 60%, which satisfies the criteria for SMC. As such, there is no remaining question to be decided.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a provider regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. The dental condition claim is denied as there is no indication that the Veteran’s claimed dental disorder involves impairment to the mandible or bone loss in the maxilla or mandible region.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back condition and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran prior to a Board decision.