Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her combat service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.,His claim for an increased rating for testicular cancer, status post right orchiectomy, remains pending and will be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) has been recharacterized but is still pending as the specific diagnosis of PTSD was not provided in his original application.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with lumbar DDD and IVDS has been rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board granted a 40 percent rating, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to a stroke and cerebral vascular disease, with obstructive sleep apnea as the contributory cause. The Board found that these conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and the other issues were denied or not addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including examinations to clarify diagnoses and determine etiology. The issues of service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a neck disability, bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities as secondary to service-connected neck disability, obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected back disability, and bilateral leg DVT as secondary to service-connected back disability. The Veteran's migraine headaches claim has also been reopened.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed after service, but the Board finds that it is more likely than not incurred during her military service due to symptoms she reported and observed by others.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability may have worsened since the last VA examination in July 2015, and a new examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea need further development due to conflicting medical evidence and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic fatigue is denied due to lack of qualifying chronic disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's wife reported symptoms of snoring and apneic episodes during service, which are consistent with his current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The Board also denied service connection for lumbar spine arthritis. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his military service, specifically in relation to reported in-service sleep disturbances or Southwest Asia exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The issue of a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain beginning on April 25, 2017. The Veteran also received a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right wrist disability and back disability, but denied service connection for both conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of sleep apnea, colorectal cancer and small intestine resection, olecranon spur, right elbow, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of this decision.,The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is now rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision.