Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to service or was aggravated by service. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the current schedular criteria adequately rated the condition at all pertinent points of appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have originated during service, and hypertension is considered secondary to the service-connected sleep apnea. The Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disability and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disorder. For sleep apnea, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the condition and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for left and right trapezius strain, as well as the matters of service connection for a right ankle disability and sleep apnea (claimed as due to PTSD). The other claims are being considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address the etiology of his sleep apnea and GERD, as well as to determine the current severity of his service-connected left ear otitis media.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection, but has determined that the evidence does not support a grant of service connection due to lack of medical nexus between his current condition and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset and nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis of the right knee, and sleep apnea were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for back problems, bilateral foot problems (claimed as no arches), diabetes mellitus, fractured ankle, sleep apnea, and stomach problem.,None of the Veteran's claimed conditions are shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his cause of death, which was due to a fall from a safe. The Board found the medical evidence insufficient to establish that any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were the principal or contributory cause of his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not attributable to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 12, 2012. The Veteran also received a grant of service connection for sleep apnea and the effective date for this is set at May 19, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and clarification of certain aspects of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and any current skin disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension and sleep apnea are not related to military service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative joint disease of the right hip were determined to have been incurred during his periods of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are not related to his period of service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.