Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon cancer and obstructive sleep apnea due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including verifying his service history and obtaining medical records. The claims are being remanded to allow for these steps.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran is asked to provide additional evidence and VA will attempt to obtain any necessary records for a new opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD of the lumbosacral spine, with implanted neurostimulator and scar is denied. The separate rating assigned for radiculopathy of the LLE as of August 4, 2016, remains proper.

The Board has decided that a VA medical examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.,Her claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied chest pain claim has been granted, but the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a closed third metatarsal fracture and sleep apnea due to in-service environmental exposure. The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected, but remands the case for further development to address whether it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection as it is found to have had its onset during service and there is no evidence of aggravation or pre-existing condition. The Board finds the Veteran credible in his testimony regarding symptoms experienced during and since service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI residuals, and COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and lack of rationale in the previous opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an eye disability, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his current disability levels and functional limitations. The issues include ratings for chronic lumbosacral strain post laminectomies with fusion due to degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, residuals of a right great toe fracture, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral ingrown toenails, left and right thumb stenosing tenosynovitis, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, and obstructive sleep apnea are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a higher rating for his right carpal tunnel syndrome from January 30, 2019, and the issue of service connection for headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's headaches were granted a 50% disability rating effective September 28, 2017. However, his TDIU claim was denied as he is not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, duodenal ulcer, lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have all been denied. The effective date of the awards is April 23, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, ischemic heart disease, and various gunshot wound residuals, have resulted in loss of use of the lower extremities. The Board has granted specially adapted housing for these conditions.