Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his sleep apnea is not related to service. The back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded three of the Veteran's claims: service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for IBS related to Southwest Asia service, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the lack of records from his 1985 Heidelberg Hospital diagnosis and concerns about the validity of a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to service connection and rating determinations. The Veteran is also required to provide updated VA treatment records and any outstanding Vet Center records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a compensable rating for his service-connected back disability is granted, subject to controlling regulations governing the payment of monetary awards. The Board also grants service connection for lumbosacral spondylosis and right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, with a combined disability rating of 90 percent for her service-connected conditions. The Board found that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities preclude all substantially gainful employment due to her migraines and psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to inadequate medical examinations. The issues include a left leg disability, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, and a left-hand disability.

The claim for service connection for a right thumb disability has been denied as the evidence does not establish that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The claim for service connection for a left thumb disability has been denied as the evidence does not establish that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no evidence showing that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's chronic laryngitis was granted a 60% rating from May 31, 2011. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were both granted initial 40% ratings effective March 14, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for his service-connected status post radical cystoprostatectomy with neobladder diversion and residual scars due to incomplete VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since May 8, 2017. A TDIU is granted effective from that date. The right knee disability and OSA are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, irritable colon syndrome, anxiety disorder, and sleep apnea. The matter of a compensable rating for dermatitis is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for heart attack, gastrointestinal disability (diverticulosis), acquired psychiatric disability, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with GAD and MDD. The issue of service connection for a lumbosacral strain, to include as secondary to service-connect left knee condition, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective date earlier than February 20, 2008 for the award of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD), and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic headache disorder is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus of the left ear with pain, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, headaches, chest muscle pain, bilateral vision problems, and sleep apnea. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spondylosis and a heart condition, to include as secondary to herbicide agent exposure, are remanded. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left upper extremity carpal tunnel is also remanded.