Sleep apnea decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder and granted service connection for headaches. The Veteran's current sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated in service, nor is it caused by any of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining sleep study records from 2006 and considering a July 2015 private sleep study as well as an article submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was not rated higher than 10 percent from December 3, 2012 to December 4, 2013.,Effective December 5, 2013, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain warranted a 20 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis B was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The remaining issues of service connection for knee meniscal tears, disc disease with chronic low back pain, sleep apnea, and shoulder rotator cuff tears were denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, and squamous cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected, and his lumbosacral strain with post-surgical laminectomy and total spinal fusion from L2 to S1 currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and medical inquiry into the service connection claim for sleep apnea and the increased rating claim for left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about credibility of the Veteran's statements regarding back pain and a need for clarification on the diagnosis of mechanical low back pain/lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and lumbar spine disability have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The Veteran is seeking higher initial evaluations for these conditions, but the current ratings of 20% for cervical spondylosis and 10% for the lumbar spine disability are maintained.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent prior to May 31, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will be provided with another opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, residuals of a back injury, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in service and is a result of his military service, warranting service connection.

The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service event, injury or illness related to the Veteran's current sleep apnea disability and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability and that his spondylotic changes at the right side of the sternum were not service-connected.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but the claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder (including COPD) requires further development due to potential exposure to asbestos during military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest in service and is not related to service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarification of whether PTSD can cause or aggravate sleep apnea, and to obtain an opinion on whether other service-connected conditions may have caused or aggravated the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current pulmonary disorder, to include sleep apnea and symptoms of lung volumes with mild restriction, was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to active service.