Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further VA spine evaluations following his September 2018 spinal fusion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to residuals of nasal trauma, post septoplasty and rhinoplasty. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to the Veteran’s service connected deviated septum, due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to address causation and aggravation separately.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), mononeuritis multiplex, left wrist drop, and right foot drop. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her Persian Gulf War service or any other period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in Vietnam during 1972 qualifies him for presumptive service connection for right leg angiosarcoma due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, effective throughout the appeal period. The secondary service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and effective date determination due to insufficient evidence in some areas, particularly regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and exposure as a firefighter. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and tinnitus, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and sleep apnea, as well as his rating for left hip strain and left knee disability. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, finding that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and depression. As a result, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination regarding his psychiatric, respiratory/pulmonary, and OSA conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) need further examination and opinion to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent prior to June 5, 2017 and at 40 percent from that date. The Veteran's piriformis syndrome of the right lower extremity was granted a 20 percent rating effective June 5, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the primary cause of his currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. His tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction are all rated at their maximum schedular ratings. The seizure disorder claim has been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, a back disability, Crohn's disease, shin splints, restless leg syndrome, knee disabilities, and foot disabilities have all been denied. The evidence does not support the presence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected GERD and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities, as well as for the VA representative to be provided an opportunity to submit a statement regarding the appeal.