Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records from prior to February 2013 and April 2018, as well as any SSA disability records and Walter Reed Army Medical Center records related to his heart failure. The Veteran will also be afforded a VA examination for his hypertension claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in May 2013, and the examiner found it less likely than not that the condition was incurred in or caused by service. However, the Board finds this opinion insufficient and requires a new one to address the Veteran's reports of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development and evaluation of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and headache disabilities due to inadequate medical examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and provide opinions regarding their impact on employment.

The Board denied service connection for fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, OSA and chronic fatigue syndrome as they are not caused by an event, injury or illness during active service.,Service connection was also denied for the increased disability evaluation for PTSD and additional compensation benefits for a dependent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for vertigo. The claims of secondary service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for sinus condition, hypertension, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral eye disorder (including dry eyes), bilateral cataracts, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, recurrent subluxation of left knee, post-operative left knee with DJD, right knee DJD, and right knee instability are remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for left renal arteriovenous malformation (AVM), burn scars of the bilateral ankles, tender left knee scar, and linear left knee scar is also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine condition, left hip arthritis, and left knee arthritis are not service connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition is also denied.

The Veteran's OSA with asthma is being remanded for further evaluation and potential rating adjustments.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations and opinions. The case will be reviewed with a new examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current diagnosis and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities. The decision is based on credible lay and medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was reopened and granted.,Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to major depressive disorder.,Service connection for cataracts, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, chronic right hip strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted with effective dates of February 28, 2013.,Coronary artery disease is granted with an effective date of January 28, 2013.

Service connection granted for bilateral tinnitus and denied for bilateral hearing loss, a sleeping disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression).,The Veteran's service connection claims for the other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's deviated nasal septum has been granted service connection. However, the Board has found that there is insufficient evidence to determine if his sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected deviated nasal septum and thus remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, headaches, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), and lip cancer. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.