Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's asthma and OSA are being remanded for further examination, as the current examinations are inadequate. Service connection claims for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their permanence.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether his service-connected COPD has caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection, but his insomnia was denied. The decision is mixed as one issue (sleep apnea) was granted and the other (insomnia) was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for a sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being needed. The heart condition claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to January 11, 2012. The effective date for TDIU is set at December 14, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder did not have its onset in active service or within one year thereafter, and it is not related to such service. The claim for a gynecological disorder (right ovarian cyst) will be remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's rosacea is rated at 30 percent, effective September 17, 2014. The other issues remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not individually or collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, particularly of a sedentary nature.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbosacral strain with IVDS and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of his claims for increased rating for a back disability, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD and OSA were found to meet the schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to July 27, 2015. The TDIU was also granted. However, service connection for OSA is not addressed as it is considered 'unknown' due to lack of information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent is denied.,The Veteran's vertigo has been manifested by intermittent dizziness, nausea, and needing to rest; not by occasional staggering. The claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected PTSD.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, hypertension increased in severity proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea are found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted a 100% rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder since July 20, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a sleep disorder, to include chronic obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence shows that his current sleep disorder is related to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, fatigue, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA opinion on whether his sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.