Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for sleep apnea. However, the Veteran's heart disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner will need to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea and teeth grinding, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability began during, or was otherwise caused by, his active duty service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of a period of service in the Republic of Korea and examinations to address his claims for sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and sinus/respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is related to his service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his condition had its onset during service. The claims for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and left hand numbness are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues on appeal include initial ratings higher than currently assigned for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran seeks service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify whether the condition had its onset in or is otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board has requested an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea, considering a December 2014 VA treatment record and January/July 2016/2017 Sleep Apnea Disabilities Benefits Questionnaires. The decision will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating effective January 4, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an updated VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, finding that they are not related to service. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.

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

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 11, 2014 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The other conditions were not rated higher.

The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, which she claims is related to her service-connected PTSD. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed sleep apnea disability.