Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings of his service-connected keloid scar and a separate rating for painful scar are granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating for his service-connected keloid scar, but remanded for further development regarding his claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his service aboard the U.S.S. Emory, including his diagnosed hay fever.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claim of reopening a previously denied claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and impulse control disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative spondylosis was denied as not caused by his in-service motor vehicle accident.,An increased rating more than 10 percent from January 26, 2015 and continuing thereafter for the lumbosacral spine disorder was denied due to limited range of motion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for erectile dysfunction was denied. The claim to reopen left testicular atrophy was also denied, as the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. A compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and right epididymitis were both denied. However, service connection for PTSD was granted with a 70% rating, effective from November 13, 2013.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension and remanded other issues related to service connection. The Veteran's claims are also remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing opinions regarding the service connection of sleep apnea and narcolepsy. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until these issues are addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of eye injury, nasal disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not caused by his military service or his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and PTSD. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence in his claims file, particularly regarding his Reserve service records and treatment records. The Veteran is also required to provide private medical records related to his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had its clinical onset during service or is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection on a presumptive basis as it manifested within the one-year presumptive period following her separation from active service. The other issues were remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for OSA was withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of a fragment wound of the left posterior calf muscle group XI and scars of the left posterior calf is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to January 20, 2010, but not in excess of that rating from March 1, 2010.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no probative medical opinion linking his current disorder to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and basal cell carcinoma due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for tinnitus in each ear.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it was at least as likely as not aggravated by his PTSD.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, and the denial is upheld.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for reactive airway disease (asthma) was also denied.