Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with fracture of L1 and T12 and scars was increased to a 40 percent rating effective December 18, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not substantially caused by his service-connected diabetes, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a toxicologist regarding potential herbicide exposure and a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's liposarcoma/leimyosarcoma.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to establish the Veteran's entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability with associated surgical scar and nerve damage. Therefore, no further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa was not incurred or aggravated by his active service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ after this additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service or his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from maintaining full-time employment during the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left shoulder disability and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has determined that an additional VA examination is needed to address the relationship between his sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability (claimed as levoscoliosis) and sleep apnea.,There is no evidence of a preexisting scoliosis or DJD, and the Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate prior to June 11, 2012, as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or be permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteochondroma of the right knee and back disorder, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The claims are granted as both conditions are found to be related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest in service and is not otherwise related to his military service, including exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 7, 2010. The rating is based on the frequency and severity of his prostrating attacks.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and therefore the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for the issues of service connection for spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and respiratory disability. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain new VA examinations and opinions.