Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current joint disorder, and any other claimed conditions are not shown to be related to active service or service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's disabilities are permanent and total in nature, meeting the criteria for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has found that the Veteran's sleep apnea with intermittent insomnia first manifested during active service and continues to this day. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the merits of the reopened claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected residuals of TMJ repair. The Board has determined that an additional VA medical opinion is necessary to address the currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and whether it was caused or aggravated by the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues are whether he should receive a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and his lumbosacral spine condition remains at a 20% rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of service and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive sleep apnea is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its clinical onset during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral Achilles tendonitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are all granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is being remanded due to the need to obtain a CPAP titration study and determine if he has been prescribed a CPAP machine.

The VA determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his period of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's arthralgia of the lumbosacral area and disability of the lower left extremity were not found to be related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and COPD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is more likely than not related to his military service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and associated conditions. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, specifically obstructive sleep apnea, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of his reported symptoms from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was increased to a 60 percent rating effective July 26, 2013. He is also granted service connection for essential hypertension.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disorders were not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied service connection for these conditions.