Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral sprain with referred pain to the hips is currently rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected bilateral deviated nasal septum and if so, whether it was caused or aggravated by that condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed injury in service. The Veteran is also granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chloracne was denied. The VA examiner found that the current skin condition, including Rosacea, did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition and sleep apnea were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. For the lumbosacral spine, his condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. For the left knee, he was rated at 10 percent prior to November 22, 2010, but no higher based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining private records for the Veteran's hearing loss and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his hypertension and back/neck disorders are related to service. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is considered to have begun during his military service and has continued since then. The Board therefore grants service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his respiratory conditions and mild granulomatous disease.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and GERD is found not related to the service-connected conditions. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbrosacral DJD was denied. The issue of service connection for depression, secondary to service-connected disabilities, is being remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted based on the combined evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his final period of active duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 20, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and Morton's neuroma of the left foot have been denied, while his claim to reopen a previous denial regarding Morton's neuroma has been granted. His initial increased rating claim for his left knee disability remains denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal conditions, obstructive sleep apnea with paralyzed right hemidiaphragm and COPD, and cystic disease of the right kidney.

The Veteran's claims for obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.