Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea and whether it is caused or aggravated by medication for service-connected right foot arthritis. Additionally, proper VCAA notice must be provided regarding the secondary aspect of his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied these claims. The claim for retinitis pigmentosa remains pending as it was not addressed in the April 2016 remand.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not service connected as they are either attributed to known clinical diagnoses or do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for recurrent inguinal hernia status post hernioplasty, entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a residual scar of the right hernioplasty, and entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected conditions and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 was granted. The condition is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, restrictive lung disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a bilateral knee disability, restrictive lung disability, and obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities, headaches, stomach disability, and sleep apnea due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not caused or aggravated by military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is attributable to service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for enlarged left thyroid, gout, FSG, and vertigo are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability of bilateral hearing loss and that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a left cerebellar vascular lesion, both claimed as due to medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues with the most recent VA examination and a need to address radiculopathy.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a right wrist disorder of sclerosis of the scaphoid, bilateral foot disorders (DJD and hallux rigidus), obstructive sleep apnea, and IBS as due to a qualifying chronic disability.,Reasoning: The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms during service and has current diagnoses related to these conditions. The criteria for presumptive service connection are met.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since February 6, 2015.,An earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU prior to August 31, 2010 is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and a sleep disability, finding no evidence of such conditions related to the Veteran's active duty service or due to his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 60 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with COPD is warranted from July 21, 2011. Prior to this date, the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.