Sleep apnea Board decisions

The appeal of the issues of service connection for a right foot disability, flat feet and an increased rating for residuals, fracture, 5th metatarsal shaft, right foot is dismissed. From September 21, 2011, entitlement to a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain is granted.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis. The claim for service connection for OSA, also secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for GERD, DM, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been withdrawn.,Service connection is denied for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.,Regarding the breathing disability (including a nasal disability, sinus disability, and COPD), the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the condition and service. However, it granted secondary service connection for sleep apnea due to PTSD, finding that the Veteran's PTSD likely aggravated his pre-existing sleep apnea.,The Board also granted secondary service connection for GERD, attributing its onset or exacerbation to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his erectile dysfunction and a rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether sleep apnea is related to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, unspecified depressive disorder, heart disorder, high blood pressure, thyroid disorder, stroke residuals, deviated nasal septum, and sinusitis has been granted. The claims for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder), heart disorder, high blood pressure, thyroid disorder, and stroke residuals have not been established.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and sciatic radiculopathy of the LLE and RLE are rated at 40 percent beginning April 9, 2019.,A higher rating for sciatic radiculopathy of the LLE and RLE is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for supraventricular arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and GERD are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded because the VA examiner did not address whether his depression could be a contributing factor to his sleep apnea. The case will need to be reviewed with an updated examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The issues of service connection for a stomach condition and TDIU were remanded.

The Veteran's schizophrenia and sleep apnea are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected heart condition. Service connection for left leg arthritis, stomach condition, and hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is required for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU has been raised as part of his increased rating claim. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a left elbow disorder, sleep apnea, and left knee tendonitis/tendonosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, specifically whether it is related to military service or 'accelerated damage' from exercises and running.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship to his active military service and insufficient medical opinion supporting secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine if a neck disability is related to service. The TDIU claim prior to August 15, 2016 is also being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome was first diagnosed during his last period of active duty service and has continued since then. The Board granted service connection for this condition.