Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from March 7, 2011. The claim for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected conditions or caused by any in-service event, injury, disease, or disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was due to his active military service, specifically exposure to herbicides during his tour in Okinawa. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for lumbosacral DDD status post spinal fusion with spondylosis, previously claimed as back injury. The new evidence submitted by the Veteran is sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the May 2016 VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and any relationship to alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the October 2014 VA examination report and conflicting views of the facts. The appellant's statements regarding his allergy symptoms prior to service are unclear, and a medical opinion is needed to determine if his hay fever was aggravated beyond its natural progression during active duty training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left knee, cervical spine, psychiatric, and stomach surgery disabilities. The Board finds that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma and sleep apnea were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor are they related to her service-connected allergic rhinitis.,Both conditions were diagnosed many years after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active duty service in 2010, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims regarding entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development, including new examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to inadequate opinion in the October 2012 VA examination and need for additional lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Veteran's conditions were found not to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was first diagnosed during service, and the Board finds that it manifested in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have significantly impacted his ability to work, and the Board finds that he is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions. As a result, TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.