Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for back pain, bilateral knee pain, gastritis, sweating at night, sleep apnea, fatigue, and stiffness. However, these claims are still being remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine their etiology.

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. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with cognitive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of whether obstructive sleep apnea and a left foot disorder are related to service or secondary to service-connected conditions will be addressed in further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and neck disability as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The June 2015 sleep study did not provide a basis to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions. The rating for cervical spine disability is also remanded as evidence suggests a material worsening since the last examination in January 2014. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded because the audiogram associated with the September 2015 VA audiology consult has not been made part of the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his PTSD medications.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed shortly after service and is considered to have started during active duty, thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding no new and material evidence that would support reopening the case.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted a 20 percent rating prior to September 28, 2016. The issue of entitlement to service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy is not currently developed or certified.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a proper medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection grant of sleep apnea with hypoxemia, finding that the earliest communication indicating intent to apply for benefits was on August 31, 2012.

The Veteran's cervical, lumbosacral, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities have worsened since her last VA examinations in February 2012. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy of both lower extremities are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The claim will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of various respiratory/pulmonary conditions, including COPD, emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, asthma/bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a pulmonologist regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.