Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, head injury, left hand disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The ratings for the left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical strain, and lumbar spine disabilities were also remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim of hypertension has been granted with a 10% rating. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for an opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for a cyst, sleep apnea, ulcers, and hiatal hernia with GERD due to the lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions at any time relevant to the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and TDIU prior to July 2, 2008. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claim that his current low back disability was related to service.

A rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's back disability is granted from July 16, 2009.,A rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted from November 5, 2013.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and cervical spine disorder. However, these claims are still pending as they need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the condition clearly and unmistakably predated the appellant's active duty service and was not aggravated by it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to sinusitis) and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea during service. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing the clinical onset and etiology of the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma and COPD, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to outstanding VA treatment records and further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea are dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for lichen simplex chronicus, nummular dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, and acne keloidid nuchae is not changed.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for sleep apnea as new and material evidence had not been submitted, despite VA treatment records indicating ongoing sleep problems.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for service connection for sleep apnea prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent from January 20, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease with L4-5 minimal grade 1 anterolisthesis and L5-S1 minimal retrolisthesis of the lumbar spine. The initial disability rating for his degenerative disc disease remains at 40 percent since July 17, 2016.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disability of the arms and legs, esophageal spasms, hiatal hernia, GERD, and obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened. The Board found that new evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. Service connection was granted for the skin disability of the arms and legs. The other issues are remanded for further examination.

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