Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, skin conditions of the back and abdomen, and stomach condition are granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain prior to September 24, 2012 was denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, sleep apnea, and increased evaluations for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The primary reasons were that there was no evidence of chronic hypertension during service or within one year post-service, and it is not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the existence and etiology of any current sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and granted a 70% rating effective September 23, 2009. The claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including service connection for myositis of the right pectoralis major, shin splints, and gastroenteritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma and sleep apnea are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, leading to a denial of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA spine examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his military service, including due to a traumatic injury in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed due to concerns about VA negligence in discontinuing his prescribed hypertension medication, which may have contributed to his untimely demise. The claims are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's sleep apnea to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's loss of teeth was caused by an in-service injury. The Board determined that the Veteran did not have irreplaceable missing teeth.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error, and the Veteran's personal hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is causally related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, hypertension, and sinusitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a GI disability, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence does not support these claims as they are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 18, 2013 at The Villages Regional Hospital were not reimbursable because the treatment was not for a condition of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for OSA, but granted a 50% rating for migraines.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance (A&A) or being housebound was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.