Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot gout as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea (OSA), acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, right foot disability, and left foot disability.,For his right ear hearing loss, the Veteran was not granted a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including other specified depressive disorder, right and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, right hip strain, and tinnitus, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment. The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 20, 2019 for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed. His claims for increased ratings for low back disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were also denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 21, 2011 for the grant of service connection for OSA, secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's informal claim for OSA was filed on this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and multiple hip and knee conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular disabilities that he contends began during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's request for Higher-Level Review (HLR) of a July 7, 2020, VA decision denying service-connection for sleep apnea was timely. The appeal is granted to this extent.

The Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, left hand scar, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The right foot disability (plantar fasciitis) and right shoulder disability claims are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, asthma, bilateral radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in lower extremities, bilateral radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in lower extremities, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and post-operative scars of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to keep himself clean and presentable due to his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea due to a duty to assist error in obtaining relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examination and reliance on lack of documented medical treatment in the absence of lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, and spinal stenosis with intervertebral disc syndrome is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy of sciatic nerve as secondary to service-connected disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy of sciatic nerve as secondary to service-connected disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with mild sensory left lower extremity S1 distribution is granted, and the issue of service connection for low back disability with radiculopathy is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability or symptoms during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a duty to assist error, including for an opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to her service-connected asthma and/or cervical strain, as well as any in-service toxic exposure risk activity (MOS as a chemical operations specialist).

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during his active service or within one year of separation, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's sleep disability - OSA was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board denied this claim.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to his active service, and the Board granted this claim.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his active service, and the Board granted this claim.,The Veteran's headaches are related to his active service, and the Board granted this claim.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and tremors, muscle rigidity and stiffness of the right upper extremity have been granted service connection. The rating for tremors has been increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and/or unspecified anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder, remains pending.