Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with anorexia nervosa resulted in total social and occupational impairment from August 27, 2008 through July 5, 2010, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and sleep apnea are service-connected, but the Board has found no current disability associated with a sleep disorder other than OSA that is not related to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a disability rating of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability. His claim for an increased disability rating for prostatitis prior to July 1, 2013, and greater than 40 percent from that date, was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for tension and migraine headaches, were all granted. The maximum rating of 50 percent was assigned for the headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity disability, diagnosed as polyarteritis nodosa, is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for direct service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sarcoidosis and sleep apnea are not related to his military service, including any in-service asbestos exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since January 28, 2013. His hypertension claim was denied as not related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, bronchial asthma, lumbosacral strain, left arm radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, residuals of a right wrist injury with fibrositis, left ankle injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, left knee injury, and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his active service and is granted as a direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin disability, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen his claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's current skin disorders originated in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbosacral spine is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee condition and sleep apnea are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

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

The Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypersomnia, insomnia, and hypopnea, is considered to have originated in or as a result of military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.,The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service, is not related to a disease or injury of service origin, and may not be presumed to be related to service.