Sleep apnea decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, remains on hold.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted in a June 2016 rating decision, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer pending issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since April 24, 2008 and increased to 50% from September 10, 2014.,Sinusitis was initially rated as noncompensable but increased to 50% effective September 10, 2014.,Obstructive sleep apnea is service-connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified (mixed anxiety depressive disorder).

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to a lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and bilateral L5-S1 radiculopathy, but denied service connection for cervical spine muscle spasms, left upper extremity radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of sleep apnea and readjudication of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for right rotator cuff disability, sleep apnea, colon polyps, chloracne (claimed as skin disability), and right shoulder lipoma were denied. The Veteran's claim for insomnia was granted due to its association with service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthmatic bronchitis. The decision also grants service connection for trapezius strain, finding that there is equipoise of evidence regarding its existence during the appeal period.

The Board finds that the Veteran's OSA is as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and grants service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's right hand neuropathy and traumatic arthritis of the MCP and PIP joints have been found to be related to his in-service injury, allowing for service connection. The Board also ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed left hand disorder, sleep disorder, and bilateral foot disorder.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine disability is not related to active service and denied his claim for service connection. The Veteran's hearing loss was also evaluated, but no compensable rating was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining National Guard service records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of various conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all listed disabilities.

The Veteran's esophageal stricture is currently rated at a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a facial injury, including consideration of a deviated septum and obstructive sleep apnea, remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric and spine examination. The issues of service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for back disability are pending.