Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's major depressive disorder associated with recurrent lumbosacral strain is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another for the period prior to October 14, 2019. The Board finds that his need for regular aid and attendance is established based on his difficulty with dressing, hygiene needs, attending to wants of nature, and physical or mental incapacity.

The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The appeals for right wrist injury, neck injury, left hip injury, right ankle injury, and left ankle injury are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a sleep medicine physician regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected GERD and/or esophageal cancer. The VA examiner also needs to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to headaches, sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, and respiratory issues have been reopened. The appeals are granted in part.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and granted an initial 20 percent rating for erectile dysfunction. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded his claims for increased ratings for lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease. The decision on the sleep apnea claim is final.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 40 percent from June 12, 2018. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for this period.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for sleep apnea remains denied, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss is reopened.

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

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted prior to October 4, 2014.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for various conditions, as he did not timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including OSA, PLMD and RLS, lung disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU from November 28, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected bronchitis and asthma.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence to support the claim and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and tendonitis of the right thumb, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. However, additional development is required as there are no adequate examinations of record to properly adjudicate these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea, but finds that further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, headaches, a head scar, and fibromyalgia have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during his June 2019 Board hearing.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected headaches has also been dismissed.