Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to weight gain caused by his service-connected disabilities. The right knee disability claims are remanded for additional examination and opinion, and the left knee disability claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a TDIU determination, and referred it to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for nephrolithiasis, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea due to exposure to toxic chemicals. The cases are being sent back for additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by service or related to service.

Service connection is granted for a right knee disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.,A rating of 50 percent, but no higher, is granted for bilateral flatfoot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraine headaches due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia are remanded as there are outstanding records of treatment received by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraine headaches due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia are remanded as there are outstanding records of treatment received by the Veteran.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome has been granted service connection. Service connection for fibromyalgia, acid reflux, and other conditions have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. However, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for mild obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his sleep apnea is not proximately due to or aggravated by his opiate use for his service-connected right knee and right shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. Service connection is granted for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to support the claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it more likely than not that the condition began during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a pathophysiological relationship between OSA and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a determination on whether new and material evidence was submitted, as well as for additional examinations related to his bilateral knee disability and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for alcohol abuse, an increased rating for anxiety disorder, and a TDIU due to unresolved issues. The skin disorder claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine and cervical spine disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent, with a temporary increase to 100 percent during periods of convalescence. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and a TDIU prior to July 28, 2014 was dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as his sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not linked to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is not etiologically related to service, including her service-connected back disability and major depressive disorder. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the condition developed due to obesity rather than any in-service event or exposure.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis. The Veteran also has separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,A separate compensable rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted prior to October 27, 2005, as a neurological manifestation of the service-connected lumbosacral strain.,A separate compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted prior to September 13, 2008, as a neurological manifestation of the service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment, and he is therefore denied a TDIU.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed during active service and is considered to have developed there. The Board granted the claim for service connection based on direct evidence of a current disability, in-service incurrence, and a nexus between the two.