Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was reopened and granted. Service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and high blood pressure/hypertension were also granted. The claims for sleep apnea and heart disorder were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion on the etiology of sleep apnea, which may be secondary to hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The VA is directed to obtain any missing service treatment records and schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to a lack of compliance with the January 2015 Board remand order. The Veteran needs to be provided with another VA medical opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities are aggravating his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and for obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the legal definition of a 'veteran' for VA compensation purposes due to lack of active service, and therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU due to PTSD. The earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for sleep apnea and hidradenitis suppurativa have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine disability is now rated at 40 percent effective June 18, 2014. Additionally, a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted from November 11, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The remaining claims for increased ratings are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new evidence received. The issues of entitlement to service connection for other conditions related to Camp Lejeune exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected diabetes is denied, and the case for service connection of sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records submission.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbosacral spine DJD is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records. The service connection for this condition was previously granted on a secondary basis, but it may be more appropriately characterized as aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service or Gulf War exposure.

The Board has vacated the previous decision denying service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and has remanded the case for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and headaches due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his in-service symptoms and diagnoses.