Sleep apnea decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, sleep apnea, and a neck disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from November 21, 2003, but his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to August 15, 2013 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is not more than mild in nature.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, heartburn, fractured right metacarpal, and scarring of the face and neck are all related to his active service. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and asking the Veteran to provide or identify any relevant medical records.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased rating for migraine headaches and service connection for sleep apnea. The right hip disability claim was reopened, but denied as there is no current diagnosed right hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of his claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and granted service connection. The Veteran's right and left knee disorders, recurrent cysts behind both ears (claimed as ear drainage from the back of the ears), and sleep disorder are not supported by evidence showing they were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions did not manifest during active duty or due to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA respiratory examination to determine the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea. The issue of entitlement to an increased initial rating for hepatitis B is also being remanded as it was not properly adjudicated in the September 2012 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and found that the Veteran's in-service sleep disturbances are related to his current condition. The inguinal hernia claim is remanded due to missing records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded to the AOJ for further consideration, including referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and determine if there is any relationship between his left knee disability and his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to August 24, 2011. From that date forward, the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during active military service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and for examinations by appropriate examiners regarding the nature and etiology of any hypertension, sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy present at any point after the Veteran's August 2007 claim.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, a new examination, and issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and sleep apnea.