Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA examination and additional development of the record, including for an individual unemployability claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including an addendum opinion from an ENT specialist regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was worsened by his service-connected Meniere's disease and/or traumatic brain injury.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including chronic lumbosacral strain, mood disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service connection claims are granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and other conditions. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing appropriate duty to assist notice, scheduling VA examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claim for service connection of Right Knee DJD is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection, but his tuberculosis claim was denied as there is no current disability or evidence of active tuberculosis during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.,The Board also granted entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the condition had its onset during active service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and residuals of right ankle sprain, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for sinusitis and concluding that there is no link between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and further development due to the need to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed sleep apnea.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is causally related to his military service and grants the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to March 20, 2014 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim is granted.,Prior to March 20, 2014, the Veteran became entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral pterygium was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection has been established for his bilateral knee and lumbar spine disorders, both of which are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and clarification of whether the condition is related to environmental exposure during service in Kuwait.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea was not caused by or incurred in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.