Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized as degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations on several of his service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, lumbosacral spine; left knee tendonitis; right knee tendonitis; left ankle strain; and right ankle strain. The appeal regarding unspecified depressive disorder was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The issues of rating left and right hip conditions, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection for thyroid cancer, breast mass, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, digestive disorder, respiratory condition, upper back/neck disability, migraine headaches, and others.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's in-service adverse reaction to a typhoid inoculation is related to his current sleep apnea disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss disability, with the effective date set by the RO.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance for his left knee brace was denied because the evidence did not document continued use of the device, including no sign of recent maintenance or replacement.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional VA treatment and compensation records being added to the claims file, which must be considered in the readjudication of the claim for an increased rating for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of sleep apnea and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding that the condition had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted effective April 20, 2014. The Veteran's lumbar strain and myofascial syndrome claim is dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely appeal.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus and sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure or symptoms. The psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with major depressive disorder with psychotic features, was granted as it began during service and is related to her migraines.,A 50% rating for migraines has been granted effective December 2, 2014.

Service connection for tail bone disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied.,A higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spondylosis is denied. Separate ratings of 10 percent each are granted for left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy since July 18, 2016.

The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle sprain and dislocation status post surgery with scar was denied. The Board also found that the evidence did not support service connection for lumbosacral strain (low back pain) or sinus condition, as the VA examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Regarding service connection for cardiovascular disease, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or as secondary to PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD based on aggravation. The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were dismissed. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in the right ear, denied a higher rating for PTSD, granted a TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities, and remanded several issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left eye scar and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with a VA examination.