Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Appellant's claim regarding the cause of the Veteran’s death, including reviewing private treatment records and VA medical records. The examiner will need to provide a fully-explained opinion on whether the service-connected depressive disorder and/or OSA disabilities were a causal or contributory cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee disability and service connection for PTSD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA definition of hearing loss.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10% and a separate rating for painful flexion of the right knee is granted effective December 6, 2010.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and sleep apnea are both remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current sleep apnea and any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to her service-connected back, knee, and foot disabilities. The rating for plantar fasciitis and pes planus is remanded due to overlap in symptoms. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, headaches, right thigh paresthesias, and left thigh paresthesias as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear employment status and incomplete functional impact assessments of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to complete additional development, including determining work history and income during the appeal period, obtaining opinions on the functional impact of the Veteran's disabilities, and scheduling the Veteran for examinations.

The claim for service connection of headaches has been reopened and granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for fracture, right (major) fifth metacarpal head is April 2, 1992. The claim for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain with scar and history of herniated disc and discectomy remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the claim is dismissed. The Board has also remanded two issues: service connection for sleep apnea and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea and acid reflux associated with a psychological condition due to an inability to contact the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, a psychiatric disorder (specifically PTSD), and sleep apnea due to potential service connection based on new evidence. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is not compensable as it does not affect at least 5% of his entire body or exposed areas, and no systemic therapy is required.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical clarification and examination. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded because of conflicting evidence regarding his reported stressors. His hypertension, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and GERD claims are also remanded as there are insufficient post-service records or medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral knee disability are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The claim of service connection for tinea versicolor is reopened. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a skin disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD with alcoholism, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of response from VA regarding the competency challenge of the March 2017 VA examiner. The Veteran is required to provide evidence sufficient to support the expertise of this examiner.