Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to substantiate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not establish a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of obstructive sleep apnea and whether it is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral corset brace, prescribed for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, causes wear and tear to his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for the 2013 calendar year based on this finding.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are all found to be related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities and for an earlier effective date for service connection for a chronic right knee strain.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his military service and granted service connection.,An initial rating of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome has been granted, reflecting frequent episodes of bowel disturbance and abdominal distress.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, thyroid cyst, sleep apnea, and arthritis. The decision found that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral pes planus and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is found to be related to his military service, while his obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip osteoarthritis and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU effective October 1, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of an excision of hemangioma at the right upper back is denied as there is no evidence of three or four painful or unstable scars.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder and sleep apnea were not related to his period of active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status from June 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008 due to insufficient evidence showing a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and additional disabilities that would qualify him for SMC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip and right knee disabilities are not related to service, nor were they manifested within one year of separation from active duty. The Veteran's sleep apnea is also not linked to his military service.,Service connection for all three conditions (right hip disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea) has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which adequately reflects its severity. The claim for a higher rating is denied. The Board also found that an extraschedular evaluation was not warranted and denied the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, as well as sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction (ED), all of which were claimed as secondary to his service-connected back disability or medication prescribed for other service-connected conditions.,The VA examiners found that any current bilateral knee and hip disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition. The examiner also concluded that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not caused by service-connected asthma or rhinitis, nor did it aggravate his ED.