Sleep apnea decisions — 2013

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU remains pending. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected low back disability and to address his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, and depression. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from July 11, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. His sleep apnea remains at a 100% rating from December 1, 2009, to May 19, 2013, but drops back to a 50% rating thereafter. The Veteran's ED claim is denied.

The Veteran's asthma and sleep apnea are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for morbid obesity, sleep apnea, gout, degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, right ankle arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, but denied any increase in rating for his left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not causally related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back condition during service and denied the claim for service connection, concluding that any current back disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of the cerebrovascular accident have resulted in significant impairment, including muscle weakness and sleep disturbances. The Board finds that a TDIU rating is warranted beginning on May 8, 2012 due to these disabilities. However, further development is needed regarding the nature and severity of his service-connected conditions prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, as evidenced by his continued education and part-time work.

The case is being remanded for further development, including additional medical opinions and evidence. The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea will be reviewed to determine if it began during service or was aggravated by his rhinitis disability. His TDIU claim will also be reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to assess his bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her service-connected hypothyroidism and grants this claim.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and psoriasis were not found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,Right knee disability was granted, but the specific rating assigned is not provided in the decision.