Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and Meniere's disease had their onset during active service, meeting all elements for service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection for a right shoulder disability, including arthritis and impingement syndrome, is warranted.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's left foot dorsum minor strain.

The Veteran's current lung disabilities, other than the already service-connected restrictive lung disease, were not caused by an event in service; and are not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service connected disabilities. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, bursitis, lumps in breasts, and bone deficiency (osteoporosis and osteopenia). The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen her claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a right middle finger condition, soft tissue sarcoma, or skin disability (Kaposi's Sarcoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma) related to service. The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was denied due to the lack of evidence showing its onset during service.,The Board has also determined that there is no current diagnosis of a respiratory disorder related to service.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for DDD and strain of the lumbosacripve spine, finding that the criteria were not met for a schedular rating higher than 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for sleep apnea, and left knee disability were denied. The claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability was not addressed as it is considered outside the scope of this appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not manifest in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to such service. As a result, the claim for service connection for OSA is denied.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a new theory presented by the representative, which now suggests that the condition may be caused or worsened by the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which is related to his PTSD, must be remanded for further development and an opinion regarding whether the sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's leg disability is considered secondary to a service-connected back disability and claimed diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for flat feet, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bunions, and sleep apnea. The decision found that new evidence did not support reopening any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure. VA examinations are also required to address the claims.

The Veteran's chondrosarcoma and prostate cancer are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability was not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, neurologic abnormalities, or intervertebral disc syndrome prior to August 14, 2014. Therefore, a rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began in service and is related to his military service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to service, specifically his in-service exposure to heavy atmospheric smoke from oil-well fires.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA sleep apnea examination, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and associated radiculopathy were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.