Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected conditions. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his major depressive disorder, medications for it, or his shoulder injury.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea and tinnitus, have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability is based on a current diagnosis related to in-service injury. Service connection for the left knee disability is secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 7, 2010 for a 10% rating for the Veteran's scar. The case is being remanded for further development regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for additional medical examination and development to determine its etiology, including whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated as noncompensable prior to July 24, 2014. From that date onwards, a rating of 50 percent was granted.,PTSD was initially rated at 70 percent from the effective date of October 23, 2013.,Right shoulder degenerative joint disease received an initial 20 percent rating based on painful motion.,Sleep apnea and tinnitus were both denied for increased ratings as they are already at their maximum schedular ratings.,Loss of cervical lordosis was granted service connection effective October 23, 2013.,TDIU is pending due to the Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities.,The appeal for TBI and recurrent lumbar strain remains unresolved (remanded).,No specific exposure basis or presumption was mentioned in this decision.

The appellant has withdrawn all appeals regarding the evaluations for various hip and spine conditions, including myofascial syndrome lumbosacral spine, right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, and bursitis of the left thigh. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, primary insomnia (claimed as sleep disturbances), hepatitis B, and a dental condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran’s primary insomnia is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. A VA examination is also required to determine if the Veteran has a compensable dental disability related to his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted, with the condition being related to military service.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for a skin disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for liver disease is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,There is no current diagnosis of sleep apnea, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Ischemic heart disease is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current sleep apnea disability is related to his active duty service. The appeal will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective July 1, 2014. All other claims on appeal are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues in statements made at his September 2018 Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected condition.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no credible in-service stressor supporting the Veteran’s claim of PTSD. The Veteran did not engage in combat with an enemy, and his reported stressors were not corroborated by available records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, an eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep problems, acid reflux, skin disorders, headache disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a heart condition have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and headaches have been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues for further action, including service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for the Veteran's scars. The PTSD claim is also referred to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability and for an effective date prior to May 22, 2012, for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs further VA examinations to determine the current nature and severity of his lumbosacral spine disability.