Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted after the July 2018 denial supports a claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. However, the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided that a remand is needed to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, secondary to a low back disability are denied as there is no evidence of a claim or intent to file a claim prior to March 19, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred in service and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to their death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, headaches, OSA, and polyarthralgia and joint pain. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, vision disability, and neck disability. The appeal was also remanded for further examination of the neck disability.

The Board has granted restoration of a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine with disc displacement, lumbosacral region effective October 1, 2018. The claim for an increased rating to a higher than 40 percent rating was denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability (Bankart’s lesion) is granted, and the rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals and migraine headaches. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had onset during service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for neurosarcoidosis, finding that the evidence does not support a direct or secondary relationship to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or any other conditions.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 1, 2014 to August 1, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities that precluded substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, coronary artery disease, colon cancer, and diabetes. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service treatment records and outstanding post-service treatment notes. The Veteran's sleep apnea may have pre-existed his last period of active duty, but more evidence is needed to determine if it was aggravated by that service or had its onset during that time.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, and no higher rating can be granted.,Service connection for OSA has been established based on evidence showing that it likely began during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then.,Service connection for bacterial sinusitis with rhinitis is granted, as the evidence is at least in equipoise that it began during service.,Right knee osteoarthritis is granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Migraine headaches are granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is established as the evidence supports its onset during service.,Cervical strain with degenerative joint disease is found to be related to service.,Lumbosacral strain with thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis is found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for weakness, drowsiness and difficulty with moving, dizziness, hypertension, and sleep apnea have all been denied. The Board found that these conditions are not separate disabilities from his service-connected psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.,Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran’s hypertension and sleep apnea are secondary to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.