Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and effective dates have been denied. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea has not met the criteria as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, heart disorders (including valvular disorders), and left knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not based on presumptive exposure to environmental hazards.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected stress-related CSR with residual left eye paramacular scars and bilateral dry eyes, prior to September 5, 2016, was granted. The RO assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective from September 5, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened and is now pending. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD was changed from August 5, 2015 to April 2, 2009.,VA will provide the Veteran with a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his claim for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea. The Veteran is not entitled to these benefits as there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a sleep disorder, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's symptoms have been linked to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection. The appeals for elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and the left calf disorder were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but denied service connection for tuberculosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sleep apnea and denied his claim for service connection. The increased rating claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are also being denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the Board's analysis, particularly regarding his claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and DDD of the lumbar spine. The appeal is currently in remand status due to incomplete notification for the previously scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from all times during the pendency of the appeal. He also meets the criteria for a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected back and knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbosacral musculoligamentous strain did not warrant a disability rating in excess of 20 percent. The bilateral hip condition claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The current OSA is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied, and the Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence indicating his service-connected conditions may have worsened.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, polycythemia, right and left knee arthroplasties, degenerative disc disease of L4-5, left forearm scar, and abdomen scar, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran does not have a current disability attributable to VA treatment received in April 2005, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability as a result of VA treatment is denied.