Sleep apnea decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected IGA nephropathy and if it was incurred in service. The Veteran will need to provide a VA medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep disability, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and an addendum opinion from the examiner who performed the October 2014 examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective date, increased rating, and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current 50% disability rating for tension headaches is the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Veteran is granted service connection for sleep apnea and a temporary total rating following lumbar spine surgery in September 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of his claimed disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea, hypertension, and left foot disability. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be less than what would warrant a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition, including whether it is related to his service-connected tuberculosis and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disorder and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is service-connected, but denied his claim for sleep apnea.

The VA determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is not attributable to his service or any incident of service, and specifically denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for service connection for disability of the right hand, disability of the right shoulder, disability of the lumbosacral spine, and disability of the cervical spine.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is not attributable to his active service or any incident of service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his symptoms being within the range of normal hearing. For insomnia, the Board found that it was aggravated by active duty service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent effective December 9, 2015. The rating is based on the presence of forward flexion to 10 degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and osteoarthritis of the left knee are not related to her military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability. The claims for bilateral hip and knee disorders are denied as there is no evidence of record supporting their development during ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing updated medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and thoracolumbar spine disability.