Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is not rated more than 30 percent, as the evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy is not rated more than 20 percent, as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,Lumbosacral strain with IVDS and L4-L5 herniated intervertebral disc does not warrant an initial rating more than 10 percent due to combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) claims are granted effective March 16, 2016. The effective date for DEA is the same as that for TDIU.

The Veteran's back and right hip conditions are found to be secondary to his service-connected right ankle condition, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again with new VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted service connection. His right shoulder disability, with recurrent dislocation and limitation of motion, is granted a separate 20 percent rating. The claims for bilateral feet, hands, wrists, and knees are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left hip degenerative arthritis and his sleep apnea. The VA will seek additional medical records and an opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's service connected PTSD, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis are found to have caused his obesity, which then led to his obstructive sleep apnea. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal of the October 2020 rating decision denying service connection for sleep apnea was dismissed because he did not provide a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the decision.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and remanded the issues of service connection for left and right upper extremity neuropathy due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is being remanded due to incomplete VA medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation of OSA by service-connected insomnia and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported stressors during service and medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service.

Service connection for chloracne is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection for hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, as it was added by this legislation.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left ankle strain.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as none of his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for such benefits. The appeal for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment only was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, right ankle sprain, and trochanteric pain syndrome left hip. The decision is based on a finding that obesity, which developed after the onset of his service-connected disabilities, was an intermediate step in causing OSA.

The Veteran's claims for sickle cell anemia, skin disability (rash), hemorrhoids, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability is also denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition began during service or is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and right ankle conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection, while the headache disability issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine (back), sleep apnea, and right knee condition as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and lack of discussion regarding the Veteran's assertions.