Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active service, despite its absence during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a current rating of 10 percent. The Board also found that the Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

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

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, sleep apnea, and headaches have been granted. The claim for hypertension has not been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate opinions and missing records. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including left foot disability, right knee disability, epistaxis, facial injury, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is less likely related to military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from a Naval Hospital and ensuring all relevant records are considered. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or related to his active military service. The Board found the preponderance of evidence against a finding that the disability is etiologically related to service.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea and hypertension are related to his service, as evidenced by their onset during active duty and post-service treatment records. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, rendering moot the claim for a TDIU. Service connection was granted for fibromyalgia as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's heart disease, sleep apnea, skin diseases, gastrointestinal disease, and nerve damage are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and/or hypertension. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the condition is more likely related to post-service events and did not occur during his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, asthma, bilateral hilar adenopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left hip disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are etiologically related to his parachute jumps during active duty.,Service connection was also granted for obstructive sleep apnea, with the opinion stating it is aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for another opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has vacated the January 4, 2018 decision and dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain (back disability) is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports and the need for clarification regarding flare-ups.