Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, a bladder condition, hemorrhoids, and a skin condition. The cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as sleep apnea, seizure disorder, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), left leg disability, and right ear hearing loss have been denied due to lack of evidence establishing service connection.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between her service-connected asthma and her sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea and hypoventilation/hypoxia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and left elbow ulnar nerve disability are related to his active service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hypertension, loss of taste/smell, skin disorder (acne), sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, gout, and vestibular disorder are granted. The service connection is established on a direct basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with lumbar scoliosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, were denied. The evidence did not show the required functional impairment or other criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for PTSD and OSA were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met, and there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder at any point pertinent to the current claim.

The Veteran's sinus disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and ganglion cyst residuals are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or are otherwise related to his military service.,The Veteran's residual scar status post excision of a pilonidal cyst is not compensably disabling.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and the Board grants service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is being evaluated to determine if it has aggravated his sleep apnea, and a new medical opinion is needed for this determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of spinal surgery and left shoulder disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, depression, recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder, and degenerative arthritis remains pending. The Board finds that VA medical opinions are necessary to decide those claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, lumbosacral strain, and onychomycosis. The Veteran's bilateral eye disorder claim was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a request for substitution of the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied in October 2002. New evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen this claim.