Sleep apnea decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected cervical spine disability. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for allergies, psychiatric disorder (now characterized as psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities), fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea are addressed.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AOJ for additional evidentiary development before subjecting it to appellate review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted as the evidence is in relative equipoise, with the Veteran prevailing.

The Board found that the Veteran's verruca acuminata of the anal mucosa did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes, and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has decided the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and has remanded it due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records since August 2014.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 27, 2004 for the grant of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered additional development to address whether the Veteran's obesity, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are related to her service-connected psychiatric conditions or medications.

The Board denied service connection for seminoma of the left testicle, heart disease, diabetes mellitus (Type 2), hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, GAD and MDD, and sleep apnea. The reduction in the evaluation of service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent disabling to noncompensable was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder, including rosacea, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and for retinal detachment in the left eye as secondary to service-connected aphakia of the left eye. The Board found that the current diagnoses did not have onset during or immediately after service, were not related to active service, including an injury sustained in November 1965, and did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as the claim has been granted and there remains no justiciable case or controversy with respect to this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder, characterized as lumbosacral strain, is not etiologically related to any incidents or injuries sustained during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to evaluate the current severity and neurological impairment of the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability due to inconsistent findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a lumbar spine disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current 20% rating for diabetes mellitus is upheld.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for sleep apnea, which is considered a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,Service connection was established for sleep apnea as it began during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and total hip replacement residuals, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella and a left knee sprain. Service connection was denied for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and unclear service connection theory, requiring a new VA examination to address the onset of any spine disability during active duty or ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.