Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disease is not related to service, and his claims for tremors and excessive sweating are denied as they are not linked to service. The claim for chest pain has been reopened but remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service or service-connected conditions, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for chronic fatigue, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome and attributed his symptoms to sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, pinguecula (eye disorder), and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their etiology. The exposure basis is not applicable as there was no herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology, including whether it is related to service or PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The remaining issue, regarding an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for gastritis and increased ratings for sinusitis, chronic lumbosacral strain, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, and right elbow ulnar neuropathy. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the inadequacies of a previous VA examination and obtain updated medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not incurred during his period of active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including its relationship to his service-connected PTSD.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine are rated at 20 percent each, meeting the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The TDIU issue is remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for the consideration of additional medical evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is directly related to his active duty training (ACDUTRA) during his National Guard service.

The Veteran withdrew from appellate consideration the issues on appeal, including the increased rating claim for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, glaucoma, bilateral gynecomastia, status post subcutaneous mastectomy, left and right knee disorders, left and right shoulder disorders, a cervical spine disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbosacral myositis, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, RLS in each leg, and TDIU prior to November 9, 2017 due to incomplete information from the Veteran regarding his employment status. The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and RLS.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability did not arise during service and is not related to any injury or event in service. As such, the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.