Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and other disabilities. The issue of a TDIU will also be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The issue of increased rating for bilateral pes planus is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea will be reconsidered based on all additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The decision addresses the issues of sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, hiatal hernia, right ear hearing loss, and maxillary sinusitis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is not related to his military service and is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional records and treatment information from the Veteran, as well as arrange for a spine examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated as noncompensable prior to August 23, 2011. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees, which meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete development of the record, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and locating any 2011 sleep study conducted at Tinker Air Force Base. The appeal is pending further appellate review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any current sleep apnea.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not related to his service or any training period, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated during his periods of active service, including Reserve service. The November 2010 VA examiner concluded that the condition existed prior to and was not aggravated by his periods of active duty from April 2002 to November 2002 and January 2005 to March 2006.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period from March 13, 2009, to December 4, 2012. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diverticulitis, and large kidney mass are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus granted as secondary.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, insomnia, vestibulopathy or balance problems, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and vascular headaches as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed low back disabilities clearly and unmistakably existed prior to entry into active service, whether there was an increase in severity during service, and whether the Veteran's May 2009 civilian employment injury caused her current low back disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and the TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining treatment records from Community Hospital and Dr. Kenneth Shaver.