Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum resulted in less than 50 percent obstruction of both sides of the nasal passage throughout the relevant period on appeal, and thus does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's skin disorder of lentigo and cancerous lesions is attributable to his sun exposure during active service. The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected coronary artery disease or hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, hip, foot, and sleep apnea disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic peripheral neuropathy affecting the arms and legs with loss of equilibrium and Dupuytren's contracture, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence received since January 2011 did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea originated during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for avascular necrosis of the right hip and sleep apnea, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service.,Service connection was also not granted for secondary service connection as the Veteran's current right hip disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his claim based on additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service and has granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with no higher ratings granted due to the lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting specific criteria.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

VA has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder to include sleep apnea, and/or PTSD, as secondary to military sexual assault (MST). The maximum rating of 100 percent is assigned effective November 30, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are not related to active service or any incident of service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his military service. The decision also noted that there was no current diagnosis of narcolepsy and thus no opinion could be provided on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and is directly related to his active service, with the preponderance of evidence supporting this finding.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine was denied, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to March 4, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during any period of active duty service and is neither caused nor permanently worsened by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea, is denied.

The Veteran's OSA is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active service and is not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.,Hypertension was not shown to be present within one year of separation from service, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis that meets the criteria for a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317(a)(1).,Peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active service and is not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.,ED was not shown to be present within one year of separation from service, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis that meets the criteria for a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317(a)(1).,CFS is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active service or to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year after separation from service, and there are no objective indications of qualifying chronic disability.,Fibromyalgia is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active service and is not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's OSA with bronchitis is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6847. The criteria for a higher evaluation (100%) are not met as there is no evidence of chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale requiring a tracheostomy.