Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Veteran's initial ratings for lumbosacral strain, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, granting service connection for hypertension. The Board also granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to hypertension. The cause of death is attributed to coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination of his right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and pseudofolliculitis barbae as there was no evidence of these conditions during or related to military service.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted. The reduction of rating for left L4 5 microdiscectomy scar residuals from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective May 5, 2016, was improper and the 10 percent rating is restored.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea during service or as a result of an event or incident related to his period of service. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination for this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's iritis is service connected as it is proximately due to his service-connected arthritis. The issues of sleep apnea and increased rating for varicose veins are remanded for further development.

Service connection for sleep apnea is denied. A 30 percent rating, but no higher, for migraine headaches throughout the appeal period is granted. Increased ratings for bilateral keratoconus are denied.

The Veteran's current Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding it at least as likely as not that his OSA was present during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his active duty service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus. As such, the claim for service connection for OSA, including as secondary to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting addendum opinions from a qualified VA physician to address the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service and is related to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 2, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea may be related to service, and thus remands for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of nasal fracture, and denied service connection for depression, OSA, and hypertension.,The Board also denied a compensable evaluation for residuals of a nasal fracture.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, including the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI. His PTSD symptoms are rated at 50% prior to October 9, 2014, combined with a separate 70% rating for TBI from that date.