Sleep apnea decisions — 2015

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn all pending claims, including those for service connection and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service, and the Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran's condition was incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of VCAA notice and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical spine condition, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus II.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to service, but his sleep disorder including sleep apnea is presumed to have been incurred in service due to Gulf War Service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is denied as the examiner did not provide a clear assessment of the severity and functional impact of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability, as additional development is needed to address his contentions and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental clinical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether his headaches in service were due to sleep apnea. The appeal is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical history review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected right temporomandibular joint derangement, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of either eye for which service connection may be awarded.,The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea began during or is related to service.

The Board has determined that there is no direct service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, as well as his back condition. The claims for fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches have also been denied. However, new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for diabetes mellitus, type 2; depression; and REM sleep behavior disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is not causally or etiologically related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease is rated at 40 percent, effective the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, BPH, symptomatic bradycardia with pacemaker, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss due to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for disability manifested by hand tremors is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The claim for sleep apnea and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis. The issue of service connection for a respiratory disability (asthma) is addressed in the REMAND portion and is REMANDED.

The Veteran's claimed back injury, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are not considered to have started during service or be related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.