Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 60 percent for his service-connected amputation of the left forearm pronator teres.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were granted effective August 1, 2014. He also has a claim for an earlier effective date which is being remanded.,The Veteran's new claim for service connection for heart condition was denied. His hypertension, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and tinnitus claims are all pending.,A total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, back disability, head injury with residual headaches and dizziness, sleep apnea, neuropathy, chronic pain disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or due to his time in service, and the Board denied the claim as there is no evidence linking it to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, hypertension, cervical spine DJD, right hand DJD, left hand DJD, right ear hearing loss, and right toe impairment have all been denied.,There is no current diagnosis of sleep apnea. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of cervicogenic headaches related to service. Hypertension was not shown within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and endometriosis due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions and additional development is required.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not due to his time in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically his deployment with the Army Reserves. The Veteran will need to provide updated VA treatment records and personnel/service records, as well as undergo an examination by a clinician who must consider the lay statements of fellow soldiers.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, sleep apnea, left shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral shin splints, and right thigh condition (secondary to low back) have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the left hand, back and stomach/abdominal area has been reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD, depressive disorder and panic disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, residuals of circumcision (penile pain), metatarsalgia with hammertoe, right knee disorder and left knee disorder are all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and fibromyalgia due to insufficient medical examination reports that did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding her in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson’s disease and sleep apnea are granted, while other conditions are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or his service-connected residuals of a nose injury.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The ratings for his sinusitis and allergic rhinitis remain at noncompensable.

The Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome was not manifest during service and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event, injury or disease. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA spine examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and to determine if functional limitation caused by his service-connected lumbosacral strain can be distinguished from his post-service DDD without resorting to mere speculation.

The Board has recharacterized the claim for service connection for vertigo as one for ear dysfunction manifested by vertigo.,Service connection cannot be established for CAD, sleep apnea, or PTSD due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and no medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left hand tenosynovitis is granted, while a higher rating for lumbosacral strain remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted due to limited range of motion.