Sleep apnea Board decisions

The appeal of service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, left lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, right lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, vision disorder, and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened and granted. The appeal is remanded to determine the etiology of his OSA.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, and IVDS is rated at 40 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression) due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran must be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a vision disorder, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and sleep apnea due to lack of current evidence or inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for sleep apnea and migraines due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to a lack of current diagnosis. The case was remanded for further action on the GERD secondary to PTSD or medications taken for service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted. The claim for headaches is remanded and a new medical opinion is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran’s migraines and tension headaches.

The Board has denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the issues of service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as an initial rating for low back disability in excess of 10 percent prior to November 1, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent on and after November 1, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for OSA and COPD/emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection was also denied for stomach ulcers and hiatal hernia.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of facial trauma, to include a deviated nasal septum, are found to have caused or significantly contributed to the development of his current sleep apnea. The claim for sinusitis as secondary to residuals of facial trauma is remanded.

The Board cannot make a decision on the issue of sleep apnea service connection because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding whether it is related to PTSD. The case is being sent back for further examination.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 18, 2011 for the assignment of a 20% initial disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's cervical spine and right knee patellofemoral syndrome increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss disability in either ear.,Service connection for OSA is denied as it did not manifest during service or be related to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of an opinion regarding their relationship to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, has been granted. The claims for fibromyalgia, CFS, IBS, and sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board found no evidence of in-service onset and insufficient medical opinion supporting a link between the current sleep apnea and service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all pending appeals by the Veteran’s attorney.