Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for a left knee disability was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral shoulder condition and sleep apnea. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension were not reopened, but his claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board also remanded the case to obtain a new VA examination for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence is granted.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left foot disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and skin condition on his back due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for sleep apnea on a direct basis and granted a disability rating of 10 percent for the service-connected upper-GI disability. Service connection for sleep apnea was not established as secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present back disabilities, including lumbosacral segment dysfunction, sacral somatic dysfunction, and thoracic segmental dysfunction. The Veteran's service records do not show an in-service injury, but her post-service treatment records indicate ongoing symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, sleep apnea, keloids, and headaches were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The claims for these disabilities are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining more than marginal employment, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of records and examination reports. The Veteran's claims for service connection are related back to his military service, but further evidence is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service exposure to loud noise. Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral hand disability, hypertension, PTSD, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and gastrointestinal disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The current ratings for PTSD and hypertension remain unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The initial rating for PTSD, unspecified psychotic disorder, and unspecified depressive disorder prior to July 12, 2017 was denied. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 15, 2017 is also denied.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and diabetes, as well as whether it is secondary to his PTSD treatment medication.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied service connection claims for hypogonadism, mood disorder, and depressive disorder. The claim for sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to the service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, bronchitis, and asthma are granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the fractured proximal joint right great toe with degenerative arthritis since July 7, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claim for dermatitis, sleep apnea, abnormal thyroid condition due to Lithium use, PTSD with bipolar disorder, thoracic spine disability, LLE and RLE radiculopathy is denied. The appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have started during his active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.