Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, have been sufficiently disabling to render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a definitive opinion and potential missing records. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant records from his incarceration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence, including a private audiogram showing current hearing impairment within VA standards, was sufficient to reopen the claim.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it was first manifested during service and not attributable to any other cause.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to hazardous materials, including burn pit exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded to obtain a medical opinion addressing the etiology of his sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder, OSA, HTN, and lumbar disc disease has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that a VA examination is necessary to determine if his sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability was not rated higher than 10%. Service connection for bilateral knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and sleep apnea were all denied as new evidence did not relate to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected PTSD. The decision also addressed secondary service connection but found no evidence of a causal link between the sleep apnea and the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied, and the issue of service connection for Sleep Apnea is remanded.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, as it may be related to his service-connected PTSD. The current evidence does not provide sufficient information for a decision on this issue.

The Veteran's hypertension and skin disability have been granted initial ratings. The right knee, left finger, and sleep apnea disorders are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome has been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of sleep apnea or chronic fatigue syndrome, and the preponderance of the evidence showed that any such conditions were not related to his active service.

The Board has granted the request to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for low back disorder, muscle twitching due to undiagnosed illness (UI), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) due to undiagnosed illness (UI), headaches due to undiagnosed illness (UI), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.,The AOJ will arrange for an appropriate examiner to determine whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, muscle twitching due to undiagnosed illness (UI), CFS due to undiagnosed illness (UI), headaches due to undiagnosed illness (UI), and OSA are related to active service or a UI.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any retinal degeneration, loss of depth perception, cerumen impaction, and sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea) found to be present during the appeal period. The claims are being remanded for these examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II), and sleep apnea due to incomplete opinions in his service connection examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the remaining claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability. The Veteran was last provided a VA examination over four years ago, and he testified during a hearing that his condition has worsened. Therefore, a new VA examination is required to determine the current nature and severity of his disability.

The Veteran's loss of tooth #8 with implant is granted, while the service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence.