Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and issues related to service connection, rating decisions, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions had onset in service or were caused by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for contact dermatitis, tinnitus, patellofemoral syndrome (left knee), and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability) are partially granted. The claim for increased rating for contact dermatitis is denied. The claim for increased rating for tinnitus prior to August 6, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability) is dismissed. The claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome, left knee, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD, left knee disability, spine disability, and plantar fasciitis. The current evaluations are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The application to reopen the claim for sleep apnea was granted. Service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to lumbar strain with degenerative changes and intervertebral disc disease at L4-L5 is granted. A rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbar strain is remanded, and a right shoulder disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents. The cause of the Veteran's death (pancreatic adenocarcinoma) did not stem from any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and secondary conditions. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is required to attend new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the service connection claims for sleep apnea and PTSD, as well as the effective date claim.

The Board has determined that the evidence is not in favor of granting service connection for chronic sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disability. The claims are therefore remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to his service-connected DFSP.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The appeal is denied for the remaining issues, including high cholesterol, melanoma, hypothyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, kidney disability, heart disability, lumbar degenerative arthritis, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease and insufficient evidence to link the current disability to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service. The examiner needs to provide a rationale for their opinion on this matter.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and if it had its onset in service following bilateral inguinal hernia repairs. The case will be returned for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for a back disability, Parkinson's disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions were related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, left hand disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, bradycardia, headaches, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for various disabilities due to outstanding records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need to provide additional treatment records, including those from private providers. He will also be provided with new examinations related to his psychiatric disorder, hypertension, lung disability, left shoulder, back, knee, and ankle disabilities.