Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The issues include a gastrointestinal disorder and sleep apnea, both of which are being reviewed de novo.

The Veteran's diagnosed lumbosacral strain was likely aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a right ankle sprain, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

Service connection for anemia, brain tumor, sleep disability other than sleep apnea (claimed as insomnia), left shoulder strain, muscle spasms of the back, chest, and neck, skin disability (rash on stomach and arms), respiratory disability (shortness of breath), rhinorrhea, cyst of the left eye, bilateral leg claudication, and gastroenteritis is denied.,The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for complaints, diagnoses, or treatments related to these conditions. The post-service medical records do not provide evidence of current disabilities for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) as it is etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, OSA, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The claim for a higher rating for bilateral tinnitus is denied as it must be dismissed as a matter of law.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum and granted an effective date of July 30, 2012 for sinusitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea needs more information and a medical examination to determine if it is related to his military service. The case is being sent back to VA to gather missing records and schedule an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to her withdrawal of those claims during a July 2019 hearing. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, coronary artery disease, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and diverticulitis.

The appeal for service connection for migraine headaches is dismissed as the Veteran's claim has been granted. The appeals for service connection for a neck condition and a sleep disorder other than sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is denied for ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10% and 20% prior to April 4, 2016 and from April 4, 2016 to March 22, 2019 respectively.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service and is not proximately caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for back disability, acquired psychological disability (other than PTSD), sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability as there is no evidence of current disabilities during or after service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for sleep apnea and migraine headaches due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it was less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD. The examiner stated that obesity is more likely the major factor for the Veteran’s sleep apnea.