Sleep apnea decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 30 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear medical opinions and additional evidence is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss and granted service connection based on new evidence received since the 1987 denial. The other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, including whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a deviated nasal septum and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including a disability of the lower left extremity and arthralgia of lumbosacral area. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or inservice herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends was caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an expert medical opinion on the etiology of OSA and its relationship to sinusitis.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes is secondary to in-service TB treatment with INH therapy.

The Board found no evidence of sleep apnea during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as there was insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was initially evaluated as noncompensable prior to April 26, 2010. As of that date, the VA determined a compensable evaluation of 10% is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder and low back disorder are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missing records and updated information from the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for left knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent evidence and for a new VA examination to determine his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis, but denied the Veteran's claims for skin disability of the toes and sterility (to include as a result of herbicide exposure) and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and sleep disorder/sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of lung cancer, and his sleep problems are related to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection, nor did it find a basis for granting the requested increased rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and sleep apnea are aggravated by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease.