Sleep apnea Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for kidney disease was withdrawn by the Veteran, and the claims for increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Veteran's service connection for a respiratory disability, to include sleep apnea, is denied.,A separate compensable rating of 100 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with traumatic brain injury is granted. The effective date prior to April 15, 2021, for the award of service connection and a compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence and a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's representatives argue that his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected IVDS or COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and additional medical opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea claim, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, as the previous examination was found inadequate.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate VA examination and insufficient evidence for secondary service connection. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again with an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's OSA and HT are granted service connection, while his DM is denied as secondary to OSA.

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to a timely Notice of Disagreement filed with the September 2018 rating decision that assigned an effective date of July 27, 2018 for service connection. The Veteran is advised of her right to de novo review or traditional appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as there were duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeals for sleep apnea and eczema, thus these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to July 14, 2020, is denied.,The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain (back disability) prior to July 14, 2020, is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right inguinal hernia scar, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), bilateral hypermetropia and astigmatism, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of unspecified depressive disorder was granted. The claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbosacral spine condition. The conditions are deemed related to in-service injuries during combat operations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, thoracolumbar spine injury, migraines, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to allow for further development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability and residuals of coccygeal fracture, with obesity being considered an intermediate step between the two.

The Veteran's OSA disability is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to chemicals, paints, and dust from sanding aircrafts and equipment related to his MOS duties as an aircraft structural maintenance specialist.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no causal connection between his in-service event and his current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error in the VA examination and opinion provided. The Board finds that an adequate VA examination is needed to clarify whether the Veteran requires the use of a breathing assistance device such as CPAP machine.