Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

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

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder condition, respiratory condition, and right ankle condition. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin conditions, including photosensitivity dermatitis, acne rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, and photosensitivity polymorphic light eruption, are related to his active duty service. The Board found that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding this connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not present during service and is not related to his military service. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected TMJ disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea did not initially manifest in service, is not etiologically related to a disease or injury incurred during service, and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and flat feet are still under consideration.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and low back disorder are not service-connected. The Board denied secondary service connection for both conditions, as the VA examiners found no link between PTSD and these disorders.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc changes and subjective radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent since the date of service connection, March 31, 2010.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional medical opinions to address the impact of his service-connected scoliosis on his other thoracolumbar spine disabilities and any possible neurological complications.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD and higher initial ratings for his lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities. The appeal is currently pending.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar disc disease and radiculopathy of the lower left extremity, effective June 12, 2009. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the February 2003 rating decision.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is granted, while the claim for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated septum and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty. The claims are therefore granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder and OSA was denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during her active duty or post-service treatment records.,An effective date prior to March 26, 2015, for the grant of service connection for left hip strain is not warranted as there are no earlier claims for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new examination if necessary. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hearing loss will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has ordered a supplemental medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's right salivary gland cancer or sleep apnea is related to his military service, including exposure to chemicals during service in Southwest Asia. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal regarding service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to hypertension. The Board has dismissed the appeal.