Sleep apnea decisions — 2017

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not manifest until many years after service and is not related to an incident or event of service origin. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence reflects the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have onset in service and is not related to any incident of service origin.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, as new and material evidence was submitted. The claims are now pending before the Board.

The Veteran's headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are found to have their onset during active duty service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various service connection claims, including those related to psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, arthritis, and dental conditions. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during his active duty. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine based on a finding that the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms since service separation, which meets the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current sleep apnea had its onset in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection for OSA, and that his thoracolumbar spine disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and PTSD have been granted service connection, but hypertension remains unresolved. The Board denied the claim for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred during active duty service, is not otherwise related to active duty service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for glaucoma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, emphysema, and heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension are not service connected as secondary to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension based on the determination that the evidence of record was against a finding that his hypertension manifested during, or was otherwise etiologically related to, his active military service. The additional evidence received since the December 2014 Board decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension.

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

The Board denied entitlement to higher ratings for the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's reports of worsening service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include a claim for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, a request for a compensable evaluation for right ankle sprain, and a TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of right elbow, left elbow, and left foot plantar fasciitis.,A left knee disorder is related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disability, and skin disorder. This includes obtaining relevant medical records, arranging for examinations, and ensuring all necessary information is considered in making a determination.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's OSA began during his active service, and therefore grants service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any reports of headaches, psychiatric disorders, or obstructive sleep apnea during active service. There is no evidence of these conditions in VA and private outpatient treatment records dated from 2008 to 2016.,Service connection for headaches, a psychiatric disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea cannot be established as there is insufficient evidence linking any current disabilities to the Veteran's period of active service.