Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiners' opinions. The Veteran's service treatment records are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in either case.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and headaches due to a lack of current diagnoses. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the current VA opinion is inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, as well as whether it is secondary to PTSD or congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The ratings for his PTSD and peripheral neuropathy have been established, with some adjustments based on when they began.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for OSA and granted it, finding that there is at least reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's condition either had its onset during his service or was proximately due to increased weight resulting from his service-connected bursitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his symptoms began during active service and resolving any doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and associated bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and/or radiculopathy are related to his military service, including his in-service duties as an aviation machinist mate. The VA examiner found that there is a 50% or greater probability that these conditions began during service.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for gout is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a disability claimed as 'arthritis throughout most of body' is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed and claimed as PTSD, is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss and coronary artery disease cases are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, and right leg arthritis as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to the Veteran's active duty period from June 1973 to July 1975.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating, but not higher. The appeal for increased ratings for sleep apnea and headaches is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including corroboration of the Veteran's claimed stressors and examination for bilateral upper extremity frostbite.

The Board has reopened several claims, including those for PTSD, but denied service connection for other conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder condition and sleep apnea were not found to be related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issues of increased ratings for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), and TDIU. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hemorrhoids are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and PTSD. The issues of service connection and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for wrist and hand conditions, as well as service connection for arthritis of the hands and fingers. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds a 40 percent rating is warranted for his diabetes mellitus as he requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA records. The AOJ is instructed to secure the Veteran’s complete service personnel records and any in-service mental health treatment records.