Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and determined that it is related to the Veteran's military service. The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability is related to his weight gain during service, which occurred while he was in active duty.

The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is also remanding the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder other than OSA, including COPD, due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is remanding the issue of service connection for a skin disability due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is also remanding the issues of service connection for sleep disorder and anxiety disorder both related to PTSD due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.,The Board is further remanding the issue of rating greater than 10 percent for GERD due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA examinations.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and Adjustment Disorder is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition characterized as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart block are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current condition had its onset during active duty and is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hand pain is granted as service connection due to an undiagnosed illness. The claims for left and right hip disabilities, eye disability (blepharitis), sleep apnea, gastritis, and dermatitis are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will be reviewed again.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, low back pain, bilateral hip disorder, right knee pain, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are all granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the esophageal disability claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating from January 9, 2013 to April 20, 2016. A TDIU was granted effective January 31, 2016. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's initial rating for IBS is denied, and his service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and PTSD are remanded. His TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate examinations in April 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic and lumbosacral strain began during his military service, resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected lumbosacral spinal facet arthropathy and degenerative changes is remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA examiner's report regarding episodes requiring bed rest, as well as additional functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran also needs a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected lumbosacral spinal facet arthropathy and degenerative changes is remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA examiner's report regarding episodes requiring bed rest, as well as additional functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran also needs a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. The claim of revision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for the denial of IBS in January 1993 was denied, as well as the request for an earlier effective date for service connection.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was reopened due to new evidence received after June 2003. The effective date for this grant is December 20, 2010.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted, and he receives a 10 percent rating for his allergic rhinitis starting from July 28, 2016. His migraines are rated at 10 percent prior to July 20, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.