Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service due to weight gain, which was a result of his active duty period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and heart condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including seeking relevant medical records and clarifying the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by undiagnosed ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be service-connected. The appellant's appeal for accrued benefits and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 has been withdrawn or dismissed due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive 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 appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected conditions or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower ulnar neuropathy, lung disability, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development including medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service or any other condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his right forearm disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to October 7, 2015 and no higher rating after that date. Service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine were also denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to service or developed within one year post-service.

The Board denied the reduction of the disability rating from 40 percent to 10 percent for the Veteran's back disability, finding that the evidence did not clearly demonstrate a material improvement in severity and that the RO did not review the entire medical history. The proposed reduction was therefore improper.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not cause him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as his limitations are due to non-service connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a supplemental VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea. Additionally, he needs to undergo another VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and sleep apnea are all related to service.,However, due to lack of specific diagnosis for sleep apnea in this decision summary, it is not clear if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed condition or if his symptoms are still being evaluated.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the Veteran's claims are properly developed and adjudicated. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, procuring private medical records, and providing supplemental opinions regarding fibromyalgia, shoulder conditions, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional opinions regarding its etiology. The appeal is again REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).