Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected asthma and tinnitus, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep disorder, finding that it is related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to his active duty service or service-connected depression.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking service connection for various conditions, including left ankle disorder, nerve condition, joint pain, muscle pain, acid reflux, memory trouble, asthma, sleep apnea (claimed as a sleep disorder), scalp folliculitis (claimed as skin problems), and headaches. The claims were dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) with erectile dysfunction, finding that the OSA is proximately due to or aggravated by his DMII.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, PTSD, and hairy cell leukemia were denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating (50%) for his adjustment disorder, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and SSA records needing to be obtained. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed for each issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of sleep apnea and whether it is related to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's sleep apnea must be evaluated again, with particular attention given to his in-service symptoms and exposure to burning trash or feces.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS is rated at 40 percent, effective September 28, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings was denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon cancer. The issues of service connection for depression, removal of a cyst, sleep apnea, adult onset vitelliform macular dystrophy, and renal cell carcinoma are REMANDED.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated nasal septum and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service nose injuries. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted since the final October 2012 decision.,The earlier effective date claim for migraines is dismissed as it violates the rule of finality and cannot be a free-standing claim without making a CUE argument.

The Veteran's breathing condition, including sleep apnea and COPD, is remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The claims to reopen the previously denied service connection for weight gain, acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea are granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, including complaints of impaired sleep and painful cough during service. The claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by the service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service, specifically the in-service occurrence of sinus problems. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.