Sleep apnea decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, finding no competent medical evidence of current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by her military service.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with herniated nucleus pulposus, were found to not warrant initial evaluations in excess of 40 percent prior to June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is linked to his service-connected prostate cancer.,Peyronie's disease is linked to his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The left iliac crest bone graft has been rated at 10% since October 20, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to January 16, 2014. Beginning on that date, the rating has been increased to 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records from the Social Security Administration and incomplete service personnel records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to a 70 percent evaluation, with an additional grant of special monthly compensation for the loss of use of a creative organ. The case is REMANDED for further examination and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, sinus disability, and sleep apnea due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected residuals of septal deviation repair, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain is currently manifested by subjective complaints and objective evidence of limitation of motion, but without any additional functional impairment or significant physical limitations as required for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen claims of service connection for deviated nasal septum, sleep apnea, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current symptoms are attributed to multiple injuries sustained during service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have its onset during active military service and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an eye disability was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made, and the issue of service connection for PTSD was also withdrawn.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and for increased ratings, as well as her TDIU claim. The Veteran was not provided adequate notice regarding her hysterectomy claim in February 2002, which is a requirement under Kent v. Nicholson.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of private treatment records for heart and sleep apnea disabilities. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for these records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal for sleep apnea. The Board found that bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 20 percent since March 13, 2013.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a sleep disorder, which he attributes to an inservice facial injury in August 1991. The Board finds that the RO must attempt to obtain all of the Veteran's pertinent treatment records and schedule an examination to identify any current sleep disorders found, including insomnia and sleep apnea; and for each disorder identified, provide an opinion as to whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal with the exception of his bilateral hearing loss claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and premature ventricular contractions.