Sleep apnea decisions — 2013

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and opinions related to the Veteran's service connection claims, increased rating claims, and anemia. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for numbness of the right lower extremity is denied as it is not related to his service-connected traumatic arthritis, lumbosacral spine.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for scar, status post resection, left fifth metatarsal and excision of plantar wart is denied due to lack of objective evidence of limitation or instability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, hypertension or PTSD. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain was granted, while the claim for lumbar radiculopathy of the left leg received a 10% rating. The hypertension claim is pending and referred to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left trochanteric bursitis with lumbosacral intervertebral disc syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded it to obtain additional evidence. The Veteran appealed this decision, and the Court vacated the Board's decision and ordered further action. The case is now being remanded to consider whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for avascular necrosis of the right hip and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sacroiliac fusion and denied the remaining claims, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to her active duty service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year after separation from service. The claim for service connection on a secondary basis to diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her claims, particularly regarding her Hepatitis C and lumbosacral strain.

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

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his liposarcoma of the left thigh is being remanded due to outstanding records from private providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his military service and is related to his active duty. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, and L4-5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only as her loss of use at least one foot is not shown.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing difficulties and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a copy of his February 2006 sleep study and scheduling him for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his military service and aggravated by his service-connected asthma. The case has been remanded due to the need for an adequate nexus opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further VA evaluation of the Veteran's records and an opinion regarding whether his glioblastoma multiforme is related to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure.