Sleep apnea decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and a lumbosacral cervical strain (back disability), finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition, or evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether his current condition had its onset during service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals on both sleep apnea and PTSD service connection claims. As a result, the Board dismissed these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's CAD and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's Barrett’s esophagus and mild gastritis (GERD) are denied as not related to his military service.,Right knee disability is reopened, with the claim for service connection being granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot injury, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The appeal seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and TDIU has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Board remanded the claims for service connection for lower back injury, COPD, and OSA due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty or qualifying periods of inactive duty training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of sleep apnea, bilateral leg disability, and PTSD are remanded due to a lack of medical opinions regarding these conditions. The RO is directed to attempt to obtain missing service treatment records and corroborate any claimed in-service stressors related to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an increased rating for his left ankle disability, including on an extraschedular basis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service. The claim is not reopened.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been reopened as new and material evidence suggests a possible link between the condition and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol and cannabis abuse caused his obesity, which then led to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it began during active service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was incurred during his service, and therefore grants service connection for OSA.

Prior to March 11, 2013, the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability was rated at 20 percent.,From March 11, 2013 to January 18, 2016, the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability warranted a rating of 40 percent.,Since January 19, 2016, the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability has been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted a separate 10 percent rating, and TDIU is granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to June 9, 2017 and at 20 percent from that date. The claim for increased rating remains denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability has not been service connected. The claim for reopening the previously denied service connection claim remains denied.,The Veteran's low back disability is rated as 20 percent disabling, but further development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.