Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as it determined that his OSA clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his entrance to active duty and was not aggravated by such service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's arthritis of the left knee, arthritis of the right knee, and degenerative changes and bulging disc disability of the lumbosacral spine as secondary to his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and mild degenerative disc disease at the lumbosacral junction, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The right knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's asthma, rhinitis, and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The initial compensable disability ratings for IBS and left knee patella chondritis were denied. The appeal on lumbar degenerative disc disease, dermatitis, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, GERD, gall bladder disease, post cholecystectomy, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with herniated disc at L5 and S1, finding that a compensable rating was warranted prior to November 21, 2016 but no greater. For the period after November 21, 2016, the Board found no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the previous remand directives were not substantially complied with and another remand is warranted. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending.

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

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing VA and private treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations. The claims will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder was denied.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted.

The appeal of the denial of TBI service connection is dismissed due to lack of an adequate substantive appeal. The claim for secondary service connection for OSA, thyroid nodules, and skin cancer is partially granted.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity sciatica prior to January 5, 2015. The issue of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and thoracolumbar spine compression fracture T12, L1 due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. Additional medical opinions are needed to address proximate causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to January 9, 2017, and a 100 percent rating thereafter. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's OSA claim.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease has been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to January 30, 2018 is remanded.