Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep disturbance or sleep apnea, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep disorder and his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right leg disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 23, 2009 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The appeal will be considered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current sleep apnea onset during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage rating standards for a TDIU and his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions, resulting in an award of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as spinal stenosis at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and lumbosacral strain, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis. Therefore, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal disabilities, are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and whether he has a current hearing loss disability. The issues on appeal are related to service connection.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to be incurred in service, but there is no evidence of a current right leg/calf strain or its residuals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded it for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition, and symptoms were not observed during service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his service and may not be presumed to have been. The claims for a respiratory disorder including COPD as a residual of exposure to asbestos, and obstructive sleep apnea were also denied.