Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, left knee disability, seizures, TIA, heart disability, bilateral lower leg neurological disability, and shaky leg syndrome. The issues include determining the severity of these conditions, whether they are related to service or other disabilities, and if they are aggravated by other conditions.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus, the case must be returned to the RO for further development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains in dispute as the VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding whether OSA was incurred during service or due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's character of discharge for the period from June 12, 2004, to October 2, 2007, constitutes a bar to VA benefits.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and PTSD) is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for recurrent diverticulitis with a resection of the large intestine, abdominal surgical scar secondary to a resection of the large intestine, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and vision disabilities had their onset during service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% disability rating effective April 10, 1999. The initial 50% rating for lumbosacral strain remains unchanged. Service connection for endometriosis with partial resection of the cervix and fibrocystic breast disease is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions, and there is no link between his active duty service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and sinus disability (sinusitis), finding that the Veteran's conditions had their onset during service and are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist carpel tunnel, and left wrist carpel tunnel have been granted.,A 10 percent rating has been assigned for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence and additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Bethesda, MD military hospital in 2005.

The Veteran's current low back disability is granted as service connected due to the rigors of his active-duty service.,Service connection for insomnia disorder is granted on a secondary basis, as it was caused by his service-connected tinnitus and now service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that her obesity, caused by her service-connected PTSD, is a proximate result of her PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim will be addressed with an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding aggravation by service-connected knee disabilities and obesity caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be due to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection for insomnia is denied.

The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder other than sleep apnea is dismissed. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to PTSD, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional review of his case, including any new VA medical records added to the file since the last decision. The Veteran and his representative have not provided a waiver of initial AOJ consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several secondary service connection claims and requests for increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset in service and is not etiologically related to service-connected GERD or toxic exposure risk activity.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and a compensable disability evaluation for hypertension have been remanded.