Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral knee pain and granted it. The claims for flat feet, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), a pain disorder, heart disease, carotid artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and insomnia are all denied.

The Board has determined that a 50 percent initial disability rating for the Veteran's sleep apnea is granted, effective October 18, 2013. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted as the evidence shows that OSA was present during his military service and diagnosed shortly after separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims, rating determinations, and the need for special monthly compensation based on the Veteran's need for aid and attendance.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted with an effective date of April 23, 2013. Service connection for a right eye disability and left eye disability are denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are denied. Secondary service connection for headaches and acquired psychiatric disability (including an adjustment disorder and depressive disorder) aggravated by tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The claim for degenerative disc disease with mild stenosis of the cervical spine was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and left knee disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as due to his major depressive disorder, finding that the condition is aggravated by his psychiatric condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and TBI as additional evidence is needed, including updated VA treatment records and new examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and major depressive disorder. The rating for right elbow bursitis remains denied. Service connection is denied for left hip disability, right hip disability, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee bursitis, right knee bursitis, lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. Service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is also granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by her service-connected asthma, allergic rhinitis, and/or sinusitis. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine this.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a bilateral eye disability, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and bilateral foot disability. The reasons include outstanding VA treatment records, need for addendum opinions on hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral foot disability, and remand for an examination to clarify lumbar radiculopathy.

The claims of service connection for thoracic scoliosis and a low back disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,The claims of service connection for a heart disability and hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure) have been reopened, but the merits of these claims remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease, and hairy cell leukemia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The Board also denied service connection for these conditions as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than February 13, 2001 for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded his other claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that a new examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of adenocarcinoma of the prostate has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to low back and neck conditions, sleep apnea, chest pain, tingling in hands, cold injuries of the feet and hands, skin conditions/rashes, and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hip disability, right eye SFW, and PTSD due to outstanding treatment records and further medical opinions being needed.