Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The right eye disability is related to service, the left foot/toe and hip/hand/knee disabilities are all found to be secondary to his service-connected knee disability, and he has a separate 10% rating for atrophy of the left leg due to his knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his ocular surface disease, lumbosacral strain with 50 percent L1 compression, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and asthma are rated under a single 50% disability rating. The criteria for separate ratings for these conditions do not apply due to the overlapping manifestations of breathing difficulties, and pyramiding is prohibited by regulation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis. The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for an effective date prior to August 5, 2015 for tinnitus has also been denied.,The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical development to clarify the etiology of his carpal tunnel syndrome and to assess the severity of his hearing loss and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial ratings of cervical fusion, lumbosacral strain with lumbar spondylosis, and left shoulder status post arthroscopic surgery.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep apnea disability and restless leg syndrome began during, or were otherwise caused by, his active duty service.,Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for service connection have been met for both conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral glaucoma, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, hypertension, and LLE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 28, 2011 for the award of service connection for sleep apnea was denied as no earlier effective date is assignable due to lack of medical evidence confirming a diagnosis prior to that date.

The Veteran's detrusser instability is related to her service-connected lumbosacral strain with transitional vertebra disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an additional opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is or has been aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for congestive cardiomyopathy. The other issues related to exposure to herbicide agents or diabetes mellitus type II were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, respiratory disability (sinusitis, asthma), and left knee disability. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and schedule VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea, left heel spur, and right heel spur are related to his active service. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either sleep disorder or stomach disorder, as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI, bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, and right hip disability are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, right shoulder disability, OSA, and alcohol dependence as due to PTSD. Service connection was denied for pes planus, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and back disability (scoliosis).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea may be related to service, but a new VA examination is needed to provide an opinion on this issue.