Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of the condition during or after his military service. The claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and migraine headaches are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's death was caused by squamous cell carcinoma of the ear, nose and throat with metastatic disease. His service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected reactive airways disease (RAD) and therefore cannot be granted as secondary service connection. Direct service connection for sleep apnea was also denied due to a lack of evidence linking it to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia and sleep apnea, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a secondary claim based on PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional treatment records. The Veteran's lumbosacral spine and left knee disabilities are at issue.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right foot injury, tinnitus, and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The Board has also determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a hearing. The issues of PTSD and lumbar spine disability ratings are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of whether the Veteran's conditions are due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1117.

The Board is remanding the claims for a videoconference hearing to be rescheduled due to the Veteran's absence. The claims will be considered again after the hearing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding of onset during active duty.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, effective since August 14, 2010. The previous evaluation was 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sleep apnea and thus, service connection for this condition is denied. The thoracolumbar spine disorder claim remains pending as there was insufficient evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, effective July 16, 2002. The Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have onset during active service, is not etiologically related to active service, and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to asthma was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide a VA examination and determine the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea disability. The Veteran contends that he has had symptoms related to this condition since active service, and there are credible statements from him and others indicating these symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate opinions regarding his left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain with arthropathy, necessitate the need for an automobile to accommodate his mobility limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disorder and other undiagnosed illness-related symptoms, have been denied. The evidence does not support findings of an in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology for these conditions.