Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disease due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's PTSD is alleged to have aggravated his OSA and heart disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for urticaria and sleep apnea syndrome have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including his reported disruptive sleeping patterns during active duty. The Board also found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea may be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for both direct and secondary service connection for sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and DDD of the lumbosacral spine, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to January 2, 2013, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total social impairment due to PTSD or a combined range of motion greater than 120 degrees for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as well as whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's OSA and whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his current condition is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or lung cancer.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain was denied, but he received a separate compensable rating (10%) for sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity since October 2, 2019.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 1, 2013 is denied. The effective date for the TDIU award is set at March 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service or any related disabilities. The claim for service connection for hypogonadism is also remanded as there is conflicting evidence on whether it is secondary to diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service or any related disabilities. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains unresolved as it is not clear if he has a presumptive condition based on herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service or any related disabilities. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains unresolved as it is not clear if he has a presumptive condition based on herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service or any related disabilities. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains unresolved as it is not clear if he has a presumptive condition based on herbicide exposure.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim of service connection for a seizure disorder, secondary to his service-connected head injury. The claims for an increased rating for Head Injury and for service connection for sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that OSA began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease or a service-connected disability.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a headache condition began in active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease or a service-connected disability.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that kidney stones began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability, right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against finding a causal relationship between these conditions and active duty.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete and inadequate opinions in the July 2016 VA medical examination reports. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination findings, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for intra-abdominal bleeding status post umbilical repair (claimed as stomach condition) is granted, with no effective date provided.

Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The persistent depressive disorder was rated at 30%, the postoperative scar on the right groin had no compensable rating, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.