Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in, caused by, or aggravated by military service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran requested and withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and migraine headaches.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral disc disease and arthritis are less likely related to service, including two motor vehicle accidents in 1983 and 1990. The VA examiners opined that these conditions were not caused by or related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and plantar fasciitis of the left foot are related to his military service, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, left ear eustachian tube dysfunction, and perforated ear drum. The current VA examinations are inadequate as they do not address the significance of the Veteran's reports of sleep problems in service or provide rationale for their opinion.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have had its onset in service and the Board finds that all three elements necessary for service connection are met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his employment history and VA treatment records. The Board will then consider the TDIU claim in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral DDD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy conditions have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for hypertension has not been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and ED are being remanded due to the need for additional development including examinations and issuance of a SOC.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of OSA is related to his military service. The claim for insomnia was denied as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, depressive disorder, and sleep apnea. Bilateral pes planus is found to have been aggravated by active duty service. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is found to be etiologically related to his bilateral pes planus. Sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes or a cardiac disability, including coronary artery disease. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the provided VA examination is inadequate and additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Veteran will be asked to provide information about any private treatment he received, and a new VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's right hand/wrist disability is not service-connected as it pre-existed his active duty and was not aggravated by service.,Fibromyalgia, respiratory disorder (COPD/Emphysema), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or due to service. OSA is also not service-connected as it pre-existed his active duty and was not aggravated by service.,Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is service-connected as it first manifested after the Veteran's second period of service.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to issues related to service connection and a rating for lumbosacral strain, as well as a claim of entitlement to service connection for ruptured Achilles tendon.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the current severity and manifestations of the appellant's service-connected skin condition, tinea cruris, tinea pedis with onychomycosis. The issues of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea remain pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be proximately caused by his service-connected right papilloma. The Board finds the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic sinusitis on a secondary basis.