Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a compensable rating for generalized periodontitis and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea before the Board could issue a decision. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower and left lower extremity nerve impairments have been withdrawn. The Veteran is not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims may be adjudicated on the merits. This includes obtaining missing service treatment records and conducting VA examinations for hearing loss, sleep apnea, and a back condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, as well as the severity of his mood disorder.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, back disability, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, headaches, and organic mental disorder have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and granted it, finding that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether the condition had its onset during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA and skin disorder claims are denied as there is no evidence of record to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a brain tumor, and the lumbar spine disability was not productive of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis as required for higher ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The issues of an increased rating for lumbar strain and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as TDIU, are pending.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, and thus denied the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral region with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) did not manifest during service or within one year after separation, and are not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not related to his active service. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating under the General Formula or based on incapacitating episodes of disc disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 15, 2011 for PTSD service connection and has remanded his claim of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for pituitary adenoma, hypothyroidism, cerebrovascular disorder with memory loss, and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a direct link to service or any recognized exposure basis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for basal cell carcinoma, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma was related to sun exposure during his military service in Vietnam. For the other conditions, the evidence did not support a direct relationship with service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection for sleep apnea and a kidney disability, including kidney stones and cysts, is denied.,A temporary total rating for treatment of a service-connected disability requiring convalescence is also denied.

The Veteran's epididymitis/testicle condition, including bulbar urethra stricture and retrograde ejaculation, is currently rated at 60% effective July 18, 2017. The Veteran also has a separate compensable rating for his sleep apnea.