Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted a 50 percent rating, and other conditions are either denied or remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The Veteran's claims for initial noncompensable rating for scar of the right flank and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is directly related to his service or if it was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea syndrome was diagnosed during active service and the Board finds that it began then. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain), and sleep apnea are all granted due to their being related to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as only a single 10 percent rating can be assigned for recurrent tinnitus.,The claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and abnormal involuntary movements are all remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the absence of any compensable degree of degenerative disc disease within one year of service separation.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no in-service incident and no evidence of chronicity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of VA examination findings and consideration of functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran is also required to provide additional private medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication, as requested in a previous February 26, 2018 Board Remand. The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) and special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no recognized disease associated with herbicide exposure, and the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate condition was denied as there is no recognized disease associated with herbicide exposure, and the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted based on a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability that is presumed to be related to his military service due to Vietnam-era service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was granted as there is evidence suggesting the condition began in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and sleep apnea due to incomplete records and the need for medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, a urinary disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for further development.,No specific service connection theory is applicable as none of the conditions appear to be linked to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased evaluations of his various disabilities has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right shoulder disability and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted service connection. The appeals for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder control disability, sleep apnea, and the reopening of claims for neuropathy and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and high blood pressure, as well as the claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's service records show elevated blood pressure readings after discharge, which may have led to a diagnosis of hypertension. For the claims related to sleep apnea and high blood pressure, additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities. A new examination is also required for the psychiatric disability claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and diabetes, but has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a deviated septum is granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is also granted, but the claims for service connection for a deviated septum and asthma are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss, sinus disability, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and venous disabilities of the legs are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.,Hemorrhoids were also not found to be related to his military service.