Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the initial ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and cervical spine degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have its onset during his period of active service and was more likely aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current service-connected disabilities for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, or hepatitis C. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD, and his dermatitis of the chest is found to be related to service. The claim for increased rating for residuals left auxiliary vein thrombosis remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as there is no evidence of its onset within one year after service discharge and the medical opinions do not support a finding that it was caused or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and updating the claims file with any new information. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his time in service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service or a service-connected disability (PTSD), and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not have its onset in service, was not shown to be related to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities, and is therefore denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred in service, as evidenced by his reported symptoms during active duty and post-service diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical inquiry into the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, including consideration of both direct and secondary theories.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination for his lumbosacral spine traumatic arthritis and an SOC regarding the restoration of a 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the right thumb.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for sleep apnea and a higher initial rating for service-connected CAD. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a pulmonary disorder, to include as due to herbicide exposure, have been denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.