Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, sleep apnea, and loss of smell due to in-service secondhand smoke exposure. The Board found that there is no evidence of chronic conditions related to these disorders during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is attributable to service and grants service connection for OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred during service and is not attributable to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, higher initial rating for PTSD and lumbosacral spine disability, as well as his claims for left knee and right knee disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's chronic sleep impairment is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathies of both lower extremities, result from a common etiology. The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, which was previously denied in August 2009. The Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is considered material evidence as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the appellant's sleep apnea was incurred during active service and to provide a medical opinion regarding this issue. The case will be returned for readjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, and right knee disorder were not shown to be related to service.,There is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service for any of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not present during active service and is less likely related to any in-service injury, event or disease. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain, including surgery residuals, has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea was withdrawn.

The Board has awarded a 40 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, which meets the criteria as per VA regulations.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and opinions on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability, migraine headaches, and sleep disorder are all related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected deviated septum. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory condition, including OSA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and myopia (claimed as decrease in vision) are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to these conditions, with no nexus established between any such disability and active service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right hip disability to include right hip bursitis and arthritis had their onset during active service, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to service.