Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the condition did not have onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset in service. The Veteran and his witnesses claim that he experienced symptoms during service, which have persisted post-service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected bronchitis and sinusitis, but needs further clarification based on additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher rating, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion to less than eighty degrees or any ankylosis. For sleep apnea and hypertension, no VA examination or opinion was provided, leading to remand.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was initially present during service and continues to persist. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, thus granting service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic low back condition, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and sleep apnea is granted. The claim for secondary service connection for headaches is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as aggravated by diabetes mellitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. The Veteran's claim will be further developed with the provision of medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and a 100% rating for PTSD, but denied service connection for pes planus. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the PTSD rating is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and he is granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis. The Board finds that additional development is needed to address his claims of upper respiratory conditions (including sinusitis) and pulmonary condition (asthma).

The claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it was caused or incurred in service, including due to exposure to environmental hazards. The Board also found no evidence supporting secondary service connection based on medications and concluded that presumptive service connection under the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act is not applicable.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are granted service connection. The Veteran is awarded an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD effective February 9, 2017. Service connection for pes planus is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis began during active duty and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no competent and credible evidence of a current diagnosis or association with active service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral knee DJD and sleep apnea, but denied the claims for erectile dysfunction and Parkinson's disease. Bilateral knee DJD is not considered related to service, while sleep apnea was first noted after service.