Sleep apnea Board decisions

An initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD is granted, but service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD remains pending.,Service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD has been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) have been denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.,The Veteran's right knee scar associated with his TKA has not received an effective date prior to October 30, 2013.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,Service connection has also been granted for sleep apnea. However, further examination is needed to determine if the current diagnosis is related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, hypertension, and Barrett’s syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Barrett’s syndrome was first diagnosed in 2008, long after the Veteran's discharge from active duty. The examiner opined that it is least likely related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is not proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected chronic gastritis.

The Board has restored service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine L3-4 through L5-S1 with herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 and multiple herniated nuclei pulposi at the cervical spine, finding that the original grants were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure during combat.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot condition, major depressive disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's pre-existing foot conditions are not considered to have been aggravated by his military service, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection due to secondary effects of his peptic ulcer disease.,Service connection was also denied for depression as it is not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability. The Board found that sleep apnea did not have its onset in service and is not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals seeking a TDIU rating and an increased rating for his low back disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all pending claims by the Veteran’s representative.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the lack of a medical opinion on whether his sleep apnea began in or is etiologically related to any incident of his military service, including conceded Agent Orange exposure. The case also includes an issue regarding service connection for obesity, which was previously addressed but not adjudicated.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the Veteran's medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity essential tremors and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to PTSD or bilateral knee disability (with obesity as an intermediary factor).

The Board dismissed appeals for an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus, a higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,The Board granted reopening of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bicipital tendonitis, labral tear, and shoulder strain. Service connection was also granted for allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's renal disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The claim for sleep apnea is denied due to lack of diagnosis during active duty and no subsequent medical records showing the condition until decades after separation. Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted as secondary to hypertension, but hearing loss and PTSD claims are not reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, OSA, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that supports this condition. Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on an in-service stressor related to fear of hostile military activity. OSA and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities remain under remand for further examination and opinion.