Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the other claims due to insufficient evidence on their merits.

The Board has denied an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to bronchial asthma.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence of its onset during active service or a link to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident and chronic headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected COPD with left pleural reaction and bronchial asthma. The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and status post myocardial infarction with coronary artery disease are also granted as secondary to his service-connected COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate spine examinations and a need for new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support higher ratings, and it was determined that the Veteran could still obtain and maintain employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension have been denied.,Service connection is not granted as the evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him incapable of maintaining substantially gainful employment from the period beginning February 4, 2017. TDIU is granted for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations regarding his service-connected conditions, particularly those related to sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted a disability rating of 20 percent effective April 3, 2015. The right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee strain were also granted increased ratings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed all issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, left leg, right leg, left foot, right foot, left hip, and right hip disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and left foot pes planus have been granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for the left foot pes planus has also been resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for right hand disability was denied. The claims for service connection of bilateral flat feet/pes planus, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his in-service injuries and his current condition.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection as it is considered to have started during his active military service.