Sleep apnea decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private clinical documentation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since April 12, 2012. The rating remains unchanged for the other issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea during a hearing before the Board. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of mononucleosis, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA's criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. The VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and a new examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an opinion from a different VA sleep specialist regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his period of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination. The issues are related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is granted as the evidence supports a finding of service connection.,The status of service connection for sleep disorder (sleep apnea) is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart disease disability and assigned a 100 percent rating effective May 7, 2013. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension are not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's rhinitis was caused or aggravated by in-service herbicide exposure. The sleep apnea claim is also deferred pending resolution of the rhinitis claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's OSA was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the increased disability rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service connected, as there is no medical evidence showing a direct link to his military service. The Board also determined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his service-connected nasal disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not initially manifested during service or related to his service-connected PTSD. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's skin disability is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.