Sleep apnea decisions — 2016

The Veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected mild allergic rhinitis, with an effective date of March 21, 2012.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his lumbosacral spine and right knee disabilities were granted, but the rating for his lumbosacral spine was found to be inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his diabetes mellitus and obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders were not present in service, were not manifested to a compensably disabling degree within the first year after discharge from service, and are not shown to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease lumbosacral spine and associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to additional evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has determined that the criteria for service connection, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right patella tendon repair (knee), and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain (back) have not been met during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion addressing his respiratory conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, as well as to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to address his claims for hepatitis B and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness to include as due to Gulf War syndrome is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's insomnia is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision on whether service connection is warranted for obstructive sleep apnea will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and addendum opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, restless leg syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and low back disorder are not related to his military service, but granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not causally or etiologically related to service, and it does not result from his service-connected PTSD and/or TBI.

The Veteran's low back disability, including associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, has been rated at 20 percent since July 18, 2011. The evidence prior to that date did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea first manifested during his active service and is related to his military service, granting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing VCAA notice regarding service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and heart disability due to further development being necessary.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to ambiguities in the previous opinions and a need for further clarification on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's hypersomnia has been rated at 80 percent since March 24, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran experiences more than 10 minor seizures of hypersomnia per week, which warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea had its onset during his period of active duty service, and the Board finds that it is etiologically related to his military service.