Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, lumbar degenerative disc disease and small disc herniation, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran's service connection claims are not supported by evidence of a current disability or a link between his in-service exposure and any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinions regarding both direct service connection and aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate consideration of relevant evidence in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Service connection for a heart condition is denied.,Service connection for a left hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a right hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a lower back condition is denied.,Service connection for skin issues is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleep issues) is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with TBI, which could impact his entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence to make a determination on the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of higher ratings for each rating period on appeal, including from September 19, 2017 to June 30, 2019.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition, bilateral eye condition, fractured nose (claimed as facial trauma), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service, as well as the impact of his PTSD on his weight gain. The Veteran needs a new opinion from a sleep specialist to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service. The VA needs to obtain these records using a properly completed Request for Texas National Guard Records form.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a lumbosacral strain (back disability) and dismissed the issue regarding the validity of a July 29, 2015 NOD with respect to bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's hysterectomy and resulting residuals, finding that they are secondary to her service-connected juvenile granulosa cell tumor.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on additional evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for depression, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disability, and hypertension. The Veteran is also required to provide updated information regarding his entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between his in-service symptoms and current condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a sleep disability, originally claimed as snoring. The Board also granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is granted. Service connection for thyroid, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic renal disease, erectile dysfunction, vertigo, and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea are not service-connected. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records, schedule a VA examination for sleep apnea, and determine if there is any connection between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his current conditions.