Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service.

The Board has granted a 30% evaluation for migraines and dismissed the TDIU appeal. The OSA claim is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding aggravation by service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and migraine headaches have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been denied. A 50 percent disability rating is granted for the service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left knee, ankle, and foot disorders, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have its onset during or is otherwise related to service and was not caused by her service-connected GERD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, narcolepsy, amputation of left lower extremity, and right knee reconstruction surgery are not supported by the evidence. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted from November 27, 2017, forward.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disease is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea are not service-connected.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression) secondary to lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran currently meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The reduction of the Veteran's evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the left knee from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective December 1, 2012, was proper.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was denied in 1990 due to the condition preexisting his military service. The claim was reopened and granted in January 2013, but an earlier effective date is denied as there were no new service department records.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no competent medical evidence of the condition in service or within two decades after service, and no established link between the current disability and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the lack of a current diagnosis of the claimed conditions. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is also remanded as there is no evidence that his diastolic pressure was predominantly 100 or more, despite being on continuous medication.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lung disability is dismissed. The claim of residual health problems secondary to Project SHAD, also claimed as birth defect in grandchild, is denied. The claims for sleep disability, heart disability, blackout spells, lymph node disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was denied as not incurred in or related to service.,A rating of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted, effective from September 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and OSA due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.