Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's left leg shrapnel residuals, including a left ankle condition and left big toe condition, are not related to his military service.,His right shoulder condition is not related to his military service. The Veteran has no credible evidence of such an association.,The Veteran's headaches have not been shown to be either a chronic disability or etiologically related to military service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea was not present until many years after service and is not related to his military service.,His right knee condition has not been shown to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The combined effects of service-connected radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, chronic lumbosacral strain, and right knee disabilities do not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture that the available schedular ratings are inadequate for the period of August 27, 1991 through October 12, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right and left knee strains, and bilateral hip strains are related to service. The Veteran's current foot disabilities (right metatarsalgia and left pes valgus, plantar fasciitis) are also found to be related to service.,The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right hip strain, left hip strain, and right foot disability (metatarsalgia), as well as left foot disability (pes valgus and plantar fasciitis).

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA psychiatrist regarding whether sleep apnea and hypertension are aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disorders are related to his active service, including a car accident and football injury during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative joint disease and chronic low back pain, is service connected as it had its onset in active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. His PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70%. The Veteran's TDIU claim based on his service-connected PTSD has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, sleep apnea, left knee disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was added to the issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee degenerative joint disease, and lumbosacral strain due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not shown to have either began during or been otherwise caused by his military service, and it has not been shown to have been caused or aggravated by a service connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's OSA was incurred in active wartime service and he is entitled to a TDIU. The Veteran's PTSD with major depression warrants an initial disability rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. No claims have been decided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been reopened and is currently rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, IBS, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, chondromalacia of the left knee, tinnitus) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether there were sufficient manifestations of arthritis present during service or within one year following service, and to determine if any current low back disability was incurred in or caused by service.