Sleep apnea decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and an initial compensable disability rating for pleural plaques prior to March 10, 2014. The Board also found that a disability rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was not warranted for pleural plaques. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was denied.

Your claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, previously claimed as a low back disability, has been granted and you are now receiving a 40 percent disability rating effective October 28, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected ventral incisional hernia was granted as a result of new and material evidence, but his cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities remain denied.

The Board is remanding the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing to address all issues on appeal, including reopening claims and service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease with vertigo causes or aggravates his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case to provide a new VA examination and obtain additional opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, as it relates to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral retinitis pigmentosa is rated at 80 percent since October 9, 2015. His asthma remains rated at 30 percent since April 7, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for acne disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to assess his sleep apnea and lumbar spondylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the remaining issues due to lack of evidence or clear and unmistakable evidence of preexisting conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, right hand disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lumbosacral strain with muscle spasms of lumbar area. The evidence submitted since the last final denial relates to an unestablished fact (medical nexus between current diagnosed disorders and service) necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as the evidence did not support granting higher disability ratings or a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to have been aggravated by his military service. The Board also granted service connection for residuals of right hand injury, finding that the in-service right thumb strain likely caused current degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The specific service connection or exposure basis details are not provided in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than February 6, 2009 for service connection of right L5 radiculopathy was denied. The claim for higher initial evaluations for lumbosacral spine disability prior to April 17, 2002 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter after February 6, 2009 is also denied.