Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its clinical onset during his period of service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to a service-connected disorder. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for an increased rating for tinnitus.,The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss from January 30, 2014 to November 15, 2014 did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches and assigned a 30 percent evaluation, effective March 30, 2012. The Veteran's symptoms of sleep apnea, GERD, and fatigue are secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA examination of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have its onset during active service, and the Board finds that he has a current disability. The Veteran also had anxiety disorder which was manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, and acid reflux disabilities did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation associated with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome is rated at 30 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 7010. The TDIU claim is denied as there are no service-connected disabilities that preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to her service-connected migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's combined rating from all service-connected disabilities is at least 70%, meeting the criteria for TDIU, but she was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her employment history.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his active duty service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial in December 2006.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. This includes verifying his periods of active duty and Air National Guard service, obtaining SSA records, securing VA treatment records, and arranging for medical opinions to determine the etiology of various conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA sleep disorders examination and cardiovascular disability evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain disability has not been found to meet the criteria for a higher rating, as her range of motion and symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher initial ratings for service-connected low back and left knee disabilities due to new examinations being needed, as well as additional development of records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the May 2011 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to his second period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, right wrist and hand, and right arm disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and hypertension is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diverticulitis, asthma, COPD, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, stroke, bowel cancer, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hernia, sleep apnea, and nerve damage. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.