Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea was not manifested during service and is not attributable to an in-service disease or injury, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current right shoulder and low back disabilities are service-connected as they stem from his duties as a fighter pilot during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and increased disability ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest in service and is not etiologically related to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, PTSD, cardiomyopathy, or bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, is being remanded due to inadequate examination opinions. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service or his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and DDD, lumbar spine.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during or as a result of military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a wound to the back of the head, lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus of the right foot was granted. The effective date is April 11, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and entitlement to an annual clothing allowance have not progressed further as the appellant is deceased.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for left leg sciatic nerve disability and sinusitis. Sleep apnea is found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sleep apnea that is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities warrant an extra-schedular disability rating, and to refer the matter for review by the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for fibromyalgia, and thus the claim must be denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis and denied the claim.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's OSA is not related to his active duty service and is less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lung disability and hearing loss, were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or associations with service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to address his claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the second-degree atrioventricular heart block with left ventricular hypertrophy caused the Veteran's sleep apnea. As a result, service connection for sleep apnea secondary to the service-connected condition is granted.