Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's increased ratings for his sleep apnea, bilateral maxillary sinusitis, and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and hoarseness for further examination and evaluation. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he has an associate degree and prior work experience. The Board finds that the Veteran is able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities has been denied. The effective dates for service connection have also been dismissed or denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are attributable to his in-service loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. The Board also found that these symptoms were present since service and are consistent with OSA.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a higher evaluation for allergic rhinitis, and a revision of the December 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a cervical strain on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle arthritis is denied due to lack of limitation of motion and no evidence of pain or other symptoms that would warrant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as he did not serve during a period of war, nor was his service connected with any disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records that may be pertinent to the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right wrist sprain is remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion from the March 2017 VA examiner regarding whether any preexisting right distal radius fracture was aggravated by active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records that may be pertinent to the claim.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for his service-connected musculoligamentous lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and small annular tear, effective from January 1, 2013, is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of an increased rating for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his service, and the claim for this condition is granted.,The Veteran's low back disability is found to be caused by his service-connected myofascial disorder, and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an autoimmune disorder should be remanded to allow VA to obtain relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as insomnia), sleep apnea, and vestibular disorder have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection is March 31, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition is not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s OSA began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, or that his OSA was caused or aggravated by service-connected allergic rhinitis or allergic tracheobronchitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including a sleep disorder, is related to the Veteran's service-connected GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, and tinnitus. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a respiratory condition due to asbestos exposure, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is necessary as a new examination is required to determine if his sleep apnea is related to his military service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected asthma. The Veteran will need a medical opinion on this issue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa, and remanded the issue of determining whether he is entitled to service connection.