Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development to address the nature, etiology, and severity of his service-connected conditions as well as any new or increased disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his obstructive sleep apnea and an addendum opinion regarding the potential aggravation of his acid reflux by medications for his service-connected back disability. The claims will be readjudicated after all development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in at least relative equipoise as to whether right knee strain and sleep apnea had their onset during active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 50 percent, effective March 3, 2010. The VA examiner found the sleep apnea less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not directly related to his military service, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The Board also determined that secondary service connection was not warranted as the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, PTSD, or peripheral neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's seizures did not manifest in service, within one year of service, and are otherwise unrelated to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for seizures was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for gallstones and gallbladder removal, gastrointestinal disorder including hemorrhoids, GERD, hiatal hernia, IBS (to include as secondary to PTSD), multiple joint pain, OSA (to include as secondary to PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, emphysema, and hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD claim was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which was secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service, specifically his period of INACDUTRA. The evidence does not support a finding that the condition was incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left forefinger disability have been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted as the Board finds that his current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and generalized anxiety. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine arthralgia and low back strain was found to warrant a 20 percent disability rating from March 15, 2010 to September 8, 2015.