Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The AOJ is instructed to obtain and consider a new VA opinion on this issue.

The Board denied service connection for right hip and low back disorders, finding no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's gout is granted with an initial rating of 60 percent, effective April 1, 2016. Other service connection claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable rating for left index finger laceration with scar and an effective date earlier than February 20, 2013 for the grant of service connection for left index finger laceration with scar have been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded cases involving entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD L5-S1, and a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 1, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter for GERD.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including considering service treatment records and a home sleep study test. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type II due to insufficient development in previous examinations. The Veteran is required to be examined by a sleep specialist at an alternative location.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Thyroid Disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, IBS, and sleep apnea/sleep disturbance due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors and other medical findings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and sleep apnea have been denied, as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for increased rating of scarring of the occipital scalp has also been denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because no substantive appeal was filed for the increased rating claims of PTSD and back disability, and the service connection claim for sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and right shoulder strain are related to his service. The decision is based on evidence showing these conditions began during his active duty.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claim will be remanded for further development.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder) remains pending as the Veteran's claims have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred PTSD in his active service and resolves reasonable doubt in his favor. Other claims, including those related to lumbosacral strain, right shoulder strain, right ankle sprain, left foot strain, alcohol use disorder secondary to PTSD, and depressive disorder secondary to service-connected disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to his active service.

The Veteran's initial rating for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus rating is also denied since he has not experienced episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization or visits to a diabetic care provider, and no complications are present that would be compensable if separately evaluated.,Service connection for GERD and Barrett's esophagus is remanded as the evidence does not clearly establish whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy ratings remain unchanged, with his claims for increased ratings being remanded.,TDIU prior to March 14, 2016 is also remanded as the evidence does not clearly establish whether this condition has rendered the Veteran unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain, TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, and SMC based on loss of use of buttocks due to his back condition.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea have been rated, but the Board has remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 60% rating from March 16, 2010 to February 1, 2018. The claim for an increased rating after April 1, 2019 is denied. TDIU prior to February 2, 2018 and TDIU from April 1, 2019 are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient evidence in some cases, including a need for updated VA treatment records, new examinations, and consideration of all symptomatology.