Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board denied the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance of the Veteran's spouse, finding that her spouse can perform all activities of daily living and is able to leave her home.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence to support the claims of service connection for a skin disorder, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, or OSA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA spine examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and its impact on his ability to work. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also deferred.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea, including whether it is aggravated by his service-connected insomnia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for new VA examinations of his service-connected conditions, including PFB, Rosai-Dorfman's Syndrome, meningitis, and AIDS. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hypertension contributed substantially to his cause of death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea were not established as service-connected. The Board found no evidence of in-service onset or connection to service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and major depressive disorder, with initial ratings of 30% and 70%, respectively. The Veteran's asthma claim was denied.,For the entire rating period, the Veteran is entitled to a 70% rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine, status post double laminectomy.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a final rating of 100% permanent and total.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset in service. The initial compensable rating for prostatitis is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and OSA, but denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be at least as likely as not due to his active service.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain has been rated at 20 percent since July 29, 2013. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board found no basis for a higher initial rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to February 22, 2016 and denied an increased rating thereafter. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated as 10 percent disabling based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 45 degrees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The sinus disorder claim is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of sleep apnea or establish that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis.