Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia due to presumed herbicide exposure during his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine osteoarthritis with degenerative disc disease was denied prior to August 12, 2016. From August 12, 2016 to October 27, 2016, he received a 20% rating for the condition. After that date, his claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to military service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left carpal tunnel disabilities were dismissed due to the RO granting them in full. The right ear hearing loss disability, actinic keratosis (skin condition), acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), right shoulder and knee disabilities, sleep apnea, hernia, GERD, and TBI have been denied. Service connection for hypertension has also been denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal regarding sleep apnea is remanded as there was not a complete nexus opinion provided by the VA examiner.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child of his father due to lack of evidence showing permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18, despite his current disabilities and condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for IBS, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea disorder to include obstructive sleep apnea began during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, bipolar disorder, and denied service connection for headaches, bilateral hip conditions, and diabetes. The rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine remains at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's STRs show complaints of trouble sleeping, fatigue, and other symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type two, its complications including loss of vision, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea due to a lack of medical examination. The Veteran's PTSD is already service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and various joint and hearing conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's sleep apnea and hemorrhoids had their onset during service, granting service connection for both conditions. However, his initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, lung disability, headache disability, LADD, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, enlarged prostate condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and remands for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected rheumatic fever with heart involvement and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings prior to September 27, 2002 have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction because there was no new evidence that related to these conditions occurring in service.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn during the October 2017 Board hearing. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a respiratory condition (claimed as asthma) have been reopened due to new and material evidence.,The remaining issues, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral foot, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders, are remanded for further development.