Sleep apnea Board decisions

The appeal concerning the service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine is dismissed. The appeals for tension headaches, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of right upper extremity are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his obstructive sleep apnea, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension due to the lack of a current diagnosis. Service connection for OSA is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD, left hand and right hand carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes, left knee meniscal tear, right knee meniscal tear, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, left foot pain, right foot pain, migraines, and lumbosacral strain are all granted service connection.,The Veteran's PTSD is related to her military service. The carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes, as well as the knee meniscal tears, shoulder pain, and foot pain are all linked to her service.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors in obtaining military personnel and service treatment records from the Veteran's Reserve service, confirming his periods of active-duty, ADT, IDT, and Reserve service, and obtaining SSA records. These claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether OSA was aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for restoration of ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis were dismissed as moot.,The Veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) also secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea may be related to his military service, but additional evidence is needed to make a determination.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding it proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. Service connection for sleep apnea was denied as not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding when the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea first manifested. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion on this issue.

The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service, as the previous VA examination did not address direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in October 2020 and November 2021 was inadequate as it did not address whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The case is therefore being remanded for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected conditions, including depression, low back impairment, bilateral knee impairments, bilateral hip impairments, anemia, scaring, and ankle impairments.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea disability as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service. The Veteran's current disability is currently being considered on a direct basis, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The appeal for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is dismissed as moot. Service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (secondary to service-connected OSA) is granted.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed prior to his death and is considered service-connected for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's range of motion did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. A TDIU was granted effective from November 17, 2016 to July 31, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 5, 2013 for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The claim was received within one year after separation from active duty and VA did not receive any prior communication that could be construed as a claim.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis, paralysis of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, and sinusitis have all been rated at their maximum allowable levels. The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.