Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected toxic inhalational lung disease, with cicatricial bronchiolitis, vocal cord dysfunction, and sleep apnea has resulted in his loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board granted a higher rate of SMC at the R-1 level under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1) based on the Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance or a higher level of care.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether his current condition is related to his in-service injury and if so, whether it began during service or within one year of discharge.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral eye disability, left wrist disability, and sleep disorder due to incomplete information regarding service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by medications prescribed for his service-connected musculoskeletal and psychiatric disabilities, thus granting secondary service connection.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 24, 2006 for the award of service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence submitted in August 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to ongoing medical conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his obesity which in turn was caused by his service-connected degenerative disc disease.

The Board has found that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is not warranted, and has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and whether his service-connected insomnia caused post-service weight gain and/or obesity, which in turn caused his sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stress fracture of the right tibia and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and strain. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of stress fracture, and that the Veteran’s back disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's disability ratings for his spine condition, radiculopathy, and migraines have been restored to their previous levels.,The Veteran was previously rated at 40%, 20%, and 30% respectively. The reductions were reversed.

The Veteran's retroactive disability compensation payments for sleep apnea were correctly calculated and paid based on his combined disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed disabilities, including multiple myeloma and diabetes mellitus type II, are not related to an undiagnosed illness or a Gulf War syndrome. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions have known etiologies unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension are not related to service or secondary to service-connected conditions, leading to a denial of these claims. The hypertension claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent from December 22, 2015 to October 24, 2018. A TDIU is granted from December 22, 2015. The July 2016 denial of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder and reopening the claim was granted. The claims for increased rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist condition (carpal tunnel syndrome), right foot disability, sleep apnea, and residuals of transient ischemic attack are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and discogenic disease at T12-L1, L3-4, and L4-5. The claim of service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability (including sciatic nerve damage) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for headaches, dizziness, residuals of a nasal fracture, obstructive sleep apnea, and memory loss. The appeal is granted on these issues. However, the Board has also remanded the Veteran’s claims as there are additional issues that need further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing service treatment records and incomplete private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability may be related to his head injuries, but the STRs do not provide details on these incidents or subsequent treatment. The effective date of a higher evaluation for his lumbar spine disability is also remanded.