Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial 30 percent evaluation, but denied service connection for a blood disorder, PAD, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding the issues of service connection for a blood disorder and PAD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim. Service connection is granted.,Service connection is also granted for a bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's current spinal conditions are of service onset.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy affecting his lower extremities and resulting in loss of sensation, have rendered him unable to use his feet for driving. As a result, he is granted financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile with adaptive equipment.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal regarding service connection for malaria. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the medical opinion is inadequate and requires further clarification regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected reactive airway disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his right leg disorder, GERD, and peptic ulcer disease.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted, and his rating for the right ring finger condition remains unchanged.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have its onset in service and is granted as service connected. The right knee disability, PTSD, and TDIU claims are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records, including from the Veteran's VA medical center.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for prominent submucosal venous stricture and granted it. The Veteran's current conditions of prominent submucosal venous stricture and internal hemorrhoids are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2007.

The Board finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder, and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, but further development is needed to determine if his PTSD and/or head traumas have aggravated his sleep disorders.

The Board has ordered a remand due to new evidence suggesting a link between Gulf War service and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being reviewed again.

The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea. The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to service or his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and coronary artery disease were denied as the earliest date of entitlement was July 16, 2003 and April 14, 2005 respectively.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dystrophic nails (claimed as brittle nails) and sleep apnea (due to herbicide exposure and/or secondary to coronary artery disease) were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.