Sleep apnea decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinus and vision disorders, as well as skin disorders presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and unverified stressor allegations.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected sinus headaches or related sinusitis.

The veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of her case.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and is unrelated to any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and a need for further examination.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no pending issues for the Board to decide.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability. The decision also noted that new evidence submitted since the last final denial did not meet the criteria to reopen the previously denied claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and residuals of a deviated nasal septum, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service medical records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have sinusitis or sleep apnea, and that any current sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected right hemispheric porencephalic cyst of brain with left upper extremity paresis, left lower extremity paresis, and seizure disorder.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board found no evidence of a low back or right shoulder condition during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current conditions are related to service. The veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of definite impairment or incapacitating exacerbations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that her preexisting scoliosis did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during active service and thus could not be presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an orthopedic examination and determine if the veteran's current low back conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his current disability levels. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The veteran's initial rating for sleep apnea was increased to 40 percent from April 20, 1991 to October 6, 1996. The effective date of this increase is October 7, 1996. The veteran also received a 50 percent rating for sleep apnea starting from October 7, 1996. However, the Board found that an earlier effective date was not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, memory loss, and sleep apnea due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened but ultimately denied.