Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and/or anxiety, cannot be established as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis. The Board acknowledges that he served in combat but lacks supporting documentation.,The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for retinitis pigmentosa, finding that the condition first manifested during service and is related to the Veteran's detached retina of the right eye. The initial compensable rating for the bilateral eye disabilities remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The issues of increased ratings for total knee replacements and associated scars, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea. The TDIU claim is also dependent on the outcome of the service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbosacral strain and found that service connection for tinnitus was not warranted. The evidence did not support a finding of favorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, and the Veteran’s range of motion was sufficient to meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty or a service-connected disability, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and service connection for a stomach disability (claimed as secondary to medications taken for service-connected disabilities).

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he/she has withdrawn the appeals for increased ratings for back and leg conditions, as well as TDIU prior to October 21, 2013.

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

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea disability is related to his military service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise that his condition had its onset during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his active service. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have onset during service and granted service connection.,Service connection for depressive disorder was severed due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS effective August 8, 2013. The Veteran's claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.