Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's dental and lumbosacral disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration of new evidence. The issues include service connection for a right knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated at 90 percent disabling since September 23, 2012. The Board has granted restoration of disability ratings for migraines, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, as well as TDIU from September 23, 2012 to September 22, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, PTSD, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for PTSD is also being reopened.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not show it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or type 2 diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, irritable colon syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis of the left hand, and amputation of the distal tip of the left thumb have been denied. Additionally, his claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas tendonitis, cervical spine disability, headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea have also been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, including the evaluation of total right knee arthroplasty, coronary artery disease prior to January 4, 2018, service connection for lung disease, and service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and her military service, as well as any potential aggravation of her sleep disorder by other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several service connection claims and the reopening of a claim, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is proximately due to, or aggravated by his service-connected sinus disability. The remaining issues regarding increased ratings for left knee and sinus disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for watery eyes, obstructive sleep apnea, a cardiac disability, hypertension, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD) are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds additional development is needed to address these issues.

Service connection is granted for capsulitis of the TMJs and hypertension. Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, IHD/CAD (Ischemic Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease), sternal manubrial dissociation with nonunion and atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The appeal is also remanded to determine a rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral PFS, as well as her other foot conditions. The Veteran was last examined over 7 years ago.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or chronicity within one year from separation. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder) and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to incomplete development.,The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, sleep apnea, enlarged prostate, and neck mass as there is no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for heart condition. The Board also found that none of these conditions are related to service or exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the current examination is inadequate and a new one examination is needed to determine if sleep apnea is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for high fevers with fluctuating body temperatures and sweating, as well as sleep apnea. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.