Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board concluded that the current sleep apnea is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and respiratory disorder have been denied as they are not related to his military service or any other relevant factors. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss has also been denied, but a remand is required for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current breathing disorders are not etiologically related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back strain is found to be related to service, and he is granted direct service connection.,His left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are found to be caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disorder, and he is granted secondary service connection.,There is no evidence of residuals of a groin strain, and the Veteran's claim for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's 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 does not have sleep apnea that had its onset during service and is therefore denied service connection.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and the Board finds that this meets the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbosacral strain and anterior wedging at T7, is as likely as not due to in-service injury. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with the terms of the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), which includes obtaining clarification on a VHA opinion and seeking additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and a lumbosacral spine disorder, are found to be at least as likely as not preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As such, the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his SSA records and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his cardiac disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of extraschedular criteria.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, left carpal tunnel syndrome, a neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and confirming the USS Hunley was a nuclear-powered ship.

The Veteran's arthrolumbosacral strain and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated, with an increased rating of 40 percent granted for the thoracolumbar spine disability. Separate ratings of 20 percent each were granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including COPD, chronic bronchitis, and sleep apnea, are not related to his in-service exposure to asbestos and carbon toxins. The most probative evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his keloids and scar from the removal of cysts has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and granted it, finding that there is a link between the Veteran's in-service symptoms and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left CTS were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, must be remanded due to the need for additional development including an examination and opinion.