Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for granuloma (also claimed as sarcoidosis and skin condition).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for granuloma (also claimed as sarcoidosis and skin condition) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis and remands for further development on other issues including sleep apnea, tension headaches, and PTSD.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at the highest schedular rating of 50 percent, effective June 27, 2018.,Prior to this date, the Veteran had a 30 percent rating from August 11, 2017 through June 26, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural confusion and the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was denied, and the case is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for status post laminectomy, lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with status post laminectomy, lumbosacral spine are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his military service and denied the claim. The appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a private sleep study from Wesley Medical Center.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened. However, additional evidence from a lay witness and post-deployment assessments indicate the need for an updated VA examination and medical nexus opinion addressing these factors.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for fibromyalgia, vertigo, respiratory disability (sinusitis or allergic rhinitis), cardiovascular disability, skin rash, and memory loss is not granted as there is no current disability related to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during active duty service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected persistent insomnia disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened. The Board also remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right thigh paralysis of the external cutaneous nerve.

The Veteran's somatic disorder, allergic rhinitis with deviated nasal septum, asthma (with OSA), GERD, and right wrist disability have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also receiving a noncompensable evaluation for his allergic rhinitis with deviated nasal septum, 10 percent evaluation for his asthma (prior to October 5, 2017) and 50 percent evaluation for his OSA with asthma from October 5, 2017. A 10 percent evaluation has been granted for his GERD, while a 10 percent evaluation is denied for his right wrist disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that obesity was a significant factor in causing the sleep apnea and not related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertrophied tonsils (now removed), and hypertension. The issues on appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bronchitis, sleep apnea (secondary to bronchitis), PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disorder will be addressed.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, a vascular disorder, and a chronic organic condition due to high cholesterol is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder is granted. The Veteran's cognitive disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are not found to be related to his service-connected disabilities.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for psoriatic arthritis is denied. The preponderance of evidence does not support a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hammer toes, obstructive sleep apnea, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and tinnitus have been granted. The rating for GERD has also been reduced from 30% to 10%. New evidence was submitted that supports the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 29, 2011 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates. Service connection claims for laryngitis, sleep apnea, headaches, and a psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, as the current VA examiner's opinion is inadequate. The Veteran contends that his sleep apnea is due or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, but the examiner did not consider these factors in their assessment.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right ankle melanoma, left wrist disorders, and left club foot. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine/neck disability, loss of leg control, acquired psychiatric disorder, and other disabilities secondary to hydrocephalus with shunt. The Veteran's personnel records will be obtained to determine if there were any in-service events that could have aggravated his pre-existing hydrocephalus.