Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current OSA is related to service or a service-connected disability, specifically his bilateral foot pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected, with no disputes over the rating or effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that an addendum opinion is needed to address whether his sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes and coronary artery disease. The issues of dental treatment are referred to the RO.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a total disability rating have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw all of his appeal status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic anxiety disorder with anger and depression symptoms, headaches with memory loss (claimed as migraines), and sleep apnea have been denied. The decision to deny the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is final.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic anxiety disorder with anger and depression symptoms and headaches with memory loss (claimed as migraines). These claims are now pending.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea was denied as the May 5, 2016 decision represents the later of the two dates and no reconsideration can be done under VA regulations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions combine to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary heart disease (claimed as enlarged heart) has been reopened and granted.,An effective date of April 24, 2010 is assigned for the award of service connection for sleep apnea. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale; thus, a higher rating cannot be granted.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder and right foot disorder are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder (secondary to sleep apnea) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine were denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claim for a compensable evaluation for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The Veteran's lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, skin disorder, and memory loss are all being reviewed for their etiology in relation to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sinusitis, rhinitis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's back disability, claimed as scoliosis, is granted service connection.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension are also granted. The Veteran's alcohol dependence disorder is also granted service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 10 percent rating for bulimia nervosa is granted. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and complete VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia was denied as it is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for a back disability, hypertension, gout, bilateral foot disabilities, bilateral eye disabilities, heart disabilities, sleep apnea, skin disabilities, and mental health disabilities were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, a heart condition, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, and has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, spinal spondylosis, and neuroforaminal stenosis are related to his active service.