Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development of the appeal is necessary and the appeal is REMANDED to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a low back disability, left hip disability, or sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral sprain with degenerative changes, degenerative disc disease, left ankle fracture residuals, and right middle finger fracture residuals, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not begin in service and cannot be linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the failure to contact the Veteran regarding his medical records and exposure history. The claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including COPD, and sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, and Barrett's esophagus were denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, and his migraine headaches disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The Board also determined that it is not etiologically related to a service-connected disability, specifically PTSD.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection. The status of his GERD and Sleep Apnea claims is pending further development.,VA needs to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his GERD and Sleep Apnea are related to active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD, obesity/weight gain, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are related to his service. The Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his sleep disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, sleep disability (including sleep apnea), low back disability, cranial disability (including a neuro cognitive injury due to concussion), and neck disability. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

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

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of SMC was granted, and the effective date for this grant was set at May 13, 2014. The Veteran also received an earlier effective date for his entitlement to SMC.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for hypertension or sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, or PTSD.,Both conditions were not diagnosed during service and are not shown to be related to any period of active duty.