Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea due to additional evidence being added to the record after the last statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea and sleep disturbances is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted. However, the claim is denied because there is no in-service diagnosis or relationship to service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected diabetes, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. The decision found that there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents, no current diagnoses of these conditions, and insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in disability more nearly approximating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and impaired impulse control. An initial rating of 70 percent since June 11, 2014 for PTSD is granted.

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 and whether it had its onset during military service. The VA needs to provide a new opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left lower leg disability, gastrointestinal disability, anemia, sinusitis, cervical strain, OSA, left shoulder strain, cervical dysplasia, cellulitis, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left arm radiculopathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness, including Meniere's syndrome. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and depressive disorder are remanded due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain (low back disability) was denied a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 19, 2016 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's thoracic syrinx (fluid on spinal cord) was not granted an increased rating.,A separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with the lumbosacral strain (low back disability) prior to October 16, 2015 was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, depression, a pulmonary condition and vision loss are inextricably intertwined with each other. Therefore, these matters must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has also remanded several issues, including an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae, effective date prior to September 18, 2007, for service-connected transverse myelitis of the left lower extremity and for service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and/or anxiety) and a sleep disorder (to include insomnia and/or sleep apnea).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for insomnia is remanded due to worsening symptoms and the need for an updated VA examination. She also needs to file a separate claim for service connection of sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes, and other conditions have been remanded for further development. The issues include seeking service connection for hyperlipidemia as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, hearing loss, rosacea, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, residuals of liver transplant, surgical scar, and hepatic encephalitis were all denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied because the evidence did not show a current disability or in-service incurrence. The Veteran appealed, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen this claim.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no link between the condition and service.,The Veteran's cyst disability is rated at 30 percent prior to December 15, 2017. From that date, a higher rating of 50 percent is granted but not higher.,An earlier effective date for headaches prior to December 1, 2005 and an earlier effective date for the increased rating of cyst disability prior to June 5, 2014 are denied.,An earlier effective date for TDIU prior to March 22, 2017 is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded and will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, and remands for further development are ordered.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's sleep apnea secondary to service-connected PTSD is being remanded, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for MDD prior to July 2, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter, and TDIU. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s sleep apnea or MDD to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment during the appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions or medications.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions or medications.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran has a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness and what its manifestations are.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran has erectile dysfunction and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions or medications.