Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a neurocognitive disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to lack of medical opinions on direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his military service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, left leg pain (sciatica), and right arm pain due to lack of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's lay statements will be considered in formulating opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform the basic functions of self-care and are as helpless due to his service-connected conditions, necessitating regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for eczema and OSA, both related to his PTSD. Additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as they are inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The digestive disorder claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. Service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and TDIU will be addressed after a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is being remanded as the examiner did not address whether his bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, but not higher, effective from February 23, 2012.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and tinnitus, but granted a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD effective from August 30, 2017. The appeal regarding sleep apnea was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking the sleep apnea directly to his service or to any other condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, hemorrhoids, hearing loss, flat feet, asthma, sleep apnea, and acid reflux due to outstanding VA treatment records being needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and evaluation, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to March 1, 2013 due to his voluntary retirement and inconsistent employment history.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected conditions or obesity. The examiner must address multiple theories and provide specific opinions on each.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased rating of his lumbosacral spine disability, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, is being remanded. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea was increased to a 50 percent rating, effective August 2011. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for the entire initial rating period due to his use of a CPAP machine.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.