Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the failure to obtain certain medical records and for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and it is not otherwise etiologically related to active duty service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD, left shoulder disability, insomnia, hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia, flat feet (pes planus), and tinnitus are not service-connected.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for a sleep disorder and TDIU due to service-connected disability because there is insufficient evidence on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service or service-connected left foot eczema and scars.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the accuracy of the May 2018 VA examination for bilateral hearing loss, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral ear hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for issues related to effective dates and service connection.,The Board has also remanded several claims, including those for increased ratings and TDIU based on migraine headaches.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective from December 14, 2006.,The Veteran was found to be totally disabled due to his service-connected disabilities as of December 14, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and whether obesity caused by his service-connected disabilities contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral color blindness, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and military service.,For the period on appeal, the Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10 percent. The Board found that it did not warrant an increased rating as his symptoms were within the scope of the existing 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral DDD with spondylosis was rated at 10% from November 25, 2009 through November 17, 2019 and at 20% from November 25, 2009 to November 17, 2019. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20% from November 25, 2009 through November 17, 2019 and the rating for this condition has been increased to 40% since November 18, 2019. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.,The Veteran’s lumbosacral DDD with spondylosis was rated at 10% from November 25, 2009 through November 17, 2019 and at 20% from November 25, 2009 to November 17, 2019. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20% from November 25, 2009 through November 17, 2019 and the rating for this condition has been increased to 40% since November 18, 2019. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA began during service and is secondary to his service-connected mental health condition. The case will be returned for further medical development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be proximately due to his service-connected rhinoplasty, and therefore service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no higher, prior to September 24, 2019. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and skin rash on elbows due to secondary effects.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to and/or aggravated by any service-connected disorder, finding that there is no causal relationship between his OSA and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination regarding service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of sleep apnea and PTSD are not supported by evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to provide a complete rationale for any opinion expressed.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the June 1983 rating decision denying service connection for retinitis pigmentosa. The Veteran's active duty ended on June 10, 1983, so his effective date is set to June 11, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for gout, OSA, and right leg disability to include sciatica due to issues with the factual basis of the previous decisions and the need for additional medical opinions.