Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to exposure to chemical dioxins. The remaining issues of increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right ear hearing loss were not incurred in or related to service. The Veteran was denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but denied service connection for erectile dysfunction. The decision is mixed, as the Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was reopened and granted, while his claim for erectile dysfunction remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, sleep apnea, and gout have been denied. The Board finds that new evidence received is not material to reopen the claim of service connection for sinusitis. Service connection has also not been granted for sleep apnea or gout.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right inguinal hernia, chronic renal failure, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's sleep apnea and service or any service-connected condition, thus denying his claim for service connection.

For the period of the appeal, the criteria for the assignment of an initial rating of 50 percent for service-connected lumbosacral spine fusion with internal fixation disability have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, and the effective date is set at July 23, 1991.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and reopened the claim of erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered direct service connection, as there is no presumption or secondary theory involved.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and peripheral neuropathy have been denied as not supported by evidence showing direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right eye disability, sleep apnea secondary to diabetes mellitus, and skin cancer have been denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain/sprain.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected urticaria pigmentosa was granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective from October 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are not related to service, nor were they caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities or related medications. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional VA assistance in substantiating claims of exposure to toxic chemicals during service, specifically mustard gas and herbicide agents. The Veteran's prostate cancer, respiratory disability, and sleep apnea are all being reviewed to determine if they are related to his service.