Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his period of active service, including as secondary to Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL).

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset in or is etiologically related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss issue remains pending as it requires additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder, coronary artery disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's effective dates for service connection of sleep apnea and SMC have been granted as January 21, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues listed, including consideration of new evidence. The Veteran is also advised to submit a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to perfect his appeal on any of these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Appellant's sleep apnea, including whether it had onset during or is otherwise related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing problems and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for essential tremors, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia was granted. The Board also granted increased ratings for left knee subluxation, arthritis, a scar of the left knee, right knee instability, and right knee arthritis.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues related to service connection and increased rating for traumatic brain injury. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and respiratory disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of direct service connection or secondary service connection.,VA examiners consistently found no link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's OSA requires the use of a CPAP machine, but there is no evidence of respiratory failure, cor pulmonale, or tracheostomy. Therefore, the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent are not met.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which is manifested by decreased range of motion and pain, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent under the applicable rating criteria. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability that he claims is secondary to his service-connected residuals of cerebral concussion. The case has been remanded due to the need for clarification on whether post-service falls or accidents aggravated his degenerative arthritis of the spine, thoracolumbar.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an elevated cholesterol disorder has been withdrawn.