Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his period of service, including his in-service complaints of trouble sleeping. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely due to his period of service and more likely associated with post-service weight gain, age, and history of smoking.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional evidence, including Social Security Administration records.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated during her service, and is not shown to be due to or aggravated by her service-connected thyroid disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied.

The Veteran is granted TDIU benefits effective July 7, 2008. The Board finds that it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's unemployability was due solely to service-connected disabilities during the one-year period preceding the date of claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his active duty service from February 2003 to May 2003, and therefore grants service connection for this condition on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability that is related to his military service. The other conditions were also found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were not rated higher than the current 30 percent assigned.,His left foot bunion with pes planus was rated at 30 percent prior to August 14, 2015 and his bilateral flat feet are currently rated at 30 percent from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a nasal condition and denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection is granted for the nasal condition as it is etiologically related to active service, but not for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of continuity or recurrent symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his sleep apnea, left ear eustachian tube dysfunction, perforated ear drum, knee disabilities, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple knee, wrist, and low back disabilities. The RO has assigned initial ratings for these conditions, but the Veteran disagrees with these determinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, as well as any other sleep disturbance disabilities found to be present. The examiner will provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or due to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was not granted for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a bilateral eye disability, residuals of a head injury, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, memory loss, insomnia, or a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease L4-5 of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, incomplete evidence, and failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea and his active duty service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a skin disability, PTSD, lung disorder (claimed as silicosis), and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.,VA will determine whether the Veteran's current diagnoses of skin disorders, PTSD, lung disorder, and sleep apnea are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus did not cause or aggravate either condition.