Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded as there is no clear or competent medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are granted service connection.,Service connection for fatigue disability, vesicular dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorder, sleep apnea, joint pain, and muscle pain is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea likely had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hand reactive arthritis, right elbow reactive arthritis, low back reactive arthritis, bilateral hip reactive arthritis, and left knee reactive arthritis disabilities as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as these conditions are found to be proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea began during his active service and is related to it, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, but stayed some of his appeals due to a new law. The appeal for PTSD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic headaches, and sleep apnea due to errors in duty to assist. The issues are being reconsidered as new evidence was submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed all the Veteran's claims as it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate them under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of coronary artery disease and service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected heart condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no probative evidence showing it had its onset during his active service or is otherwise etiologically related to his service.

The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss is granted.,The claim for sleep apnea is granted. The claim for emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis (due to asbestos exposure) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of PTSD and service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the current level of disability did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, as his symptoms were consistent with a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The appeals are related to his PTSD, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of October 5, 1994 for bilateral hip disability is denied. The issues of service connection for low back disability and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to missing medical records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion as the initial VA examiner did not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset of symptoms during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of such disability.

The Veteran's service connection for chronic pain syndrome is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of a higher rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorders, a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to CFS or chronic pain syndrome.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent prior to December 4, 2018 due to limitation of motion. A higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since May 1, 2011.