Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and sleep apnea, but has remanded these matters for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, postoperative residuals of a perirectal abscess excision, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for chronic sinusitis with headaches has been granted at a 10 percent level. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea, which is related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD, has been dismissed due to his explicit and unambiguous withdrawal of the claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for a bilateral foot disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are not granted. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, and respiratory difficulties have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis of CFS or Gulf War illness manifested by fatigue. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea as it is related to his service-connected PTSD. Respiratory difficulties were denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

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

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence does not show the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain caused his obesity or that obesity caused his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred during active duty service and is not otherwise related to active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder strain and left shoulder contusion, but granted service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's right shoulder strain is not related to his time in service, while the left shoulder contusion is considered due to a 1989 car accident. Sleep apnea was found not to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis, finding that it was caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, migraines, mid and lower back condition, and sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as new and relevant evidence had not been submitted, despite a diagnosis of OSA in VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine condition, is denied because there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis of sleep apnea or its signs and symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA. A VA examination is needed to determine if it had its onset in service, or is related to medication and/or depressive disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for left ankle and right ear hearing loss as withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for back, left knee, right ankle, and sleep apnea disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of service treatment records, specifically regarding a sleep study performed during active duty. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service connected due to continuity of symptoms since discharge. The remaining issues are remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various conditions were denied. The rating for sleep apnea was not higher than 50%. The rating for sinusitis was not higher than 10%. The right knee strain and instability, as well as the left and right carpal tunnel syndromes, all received their maximum assigned ratings of 20% and 30%, respectively.