Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea originated during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, bilateral hip trochanteric tendonitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The right knee disability case is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 50% rating prior to May 30, 2014 and denied for ratings higher than 70%. The service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is reopened. TDIU based on PTSD remains remanded.

The Veteran's claim for sleeplessness is reopened and granted. Service connection for sleep apnea with insomnia, secondary to PTSD, is also granted. The claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence of an in-service incident or connection to service, and the medical opinions did not support a link between PTSD and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further examination, and the respiratory disability (chronic bronchitis) claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including low back strain and hypertension. The claims are remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and remands for further examination and treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and right kidney removal. The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for these conditions was successful. Service connection is also granted for increased ratings of peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities. Additionally, the Veteran is now eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disorders, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative disc disease, were not incurred in service as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. The Board found that the current conditions are not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cataracts, blood clots in lungs, sleep apnea, basal cell carcinoma, and dementia/memory loss. The reasons for remand include seeking additional medical opinions on etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.,Service connection has been granted for a spine disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a neck disability is remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and the need for clarification of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in November 2016 was inadequate and remands for another examination to address the issues of service connection, exposure basis, and environmental exposures.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability, including issues related to TDIU prior to September 28, 2015. Additional VA treatment records are needed and the case will be readjudicated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes, aplastic anemia, and kidney disease due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea are rated at 40% each, resulting in a combined rating of 80%. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as it was not caused or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's current condition is more likely related to age and/or post-service weight gain.