Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, sleep apnea, and tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, no service connection is granted as there is no current disability found for any of these conditions.,An effective date earlier than January 11, 2016 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during his active service or within one year of separation. The evidence showed no symptoms related to these conditions until decades after he separated from service.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea has been granted, and an initial rating of 70 percent prior to July 28, 2017 and of 100 percent thereafter for PTSD has also been granted.,However, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded due to the Veteran's request for consideration of SMC.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and entitlement to a temporary total rating for convalescence from lumbar spine surgery due to incomplete records, conflicting medical opinions, and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA opinion to determine if it arose during service or is otherwise related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his condition is less likely due to or aggravated by his active duty service or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has vacated its October 2018 decision, which denied higher rating and earlier effective date for award of service connection for sinus headaches; and denied the appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The case is now remanded to determine if there are any new or material evidence that could support reopening the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unresolved issues regarding his TBI, OSA, surgically-repaired hernia, right knee disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The VA is instructed to obtain treatment records, schedule examinations, and determine the nature and extent of residuals from in-service TBIs, etiology of sleep apnea, relationship between current abdominal hernia and service, potential for right knee disability related to service, and whether erectile dysfunction is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for pulmonary sarcoidosis and service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings were not warranted, and there was no medical evidence or opinion linking the Veteran's sleep disorder to his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition initial GWS) and service connection for epilepsy. The issue of a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected fibromyalgia, PTSD and/or sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, as well as his left lower extremity condition. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the lumbosacral strain rating claim.

The Veteran's sleep apnea rating is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and reopened the previously denied claims of bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic skin disorder. The issues related to increased ratings for right elbow, cervical spine, right elbow scar, and neck scar are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and bilateral hearing loss disability due to their withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 1, 2014 for a 50% disability rating for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. This decision is based on the medical evidence showing that the condition was present and requiring treatment as early as March 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to aggravate his sleep apnea, and he is granted service connection for the latter condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including its relation to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's testimony and wife's observations suggest his sleep problems may have started in service, but further examination is needed to determine if this is true.