Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lower back disability as secondary to his right knee condition and for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to his lower back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, bilateral ocular disability (claimed as an eye condition), chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and prostate disability.,The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses of these conditions during his military service. The VA audiology examination in March 2016 found normal hearing for both ears.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his condition is related to military service or his service-connected depression. The Veteran will be given another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for various knee disabilities, depression, and radiculopathy due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

Service connection is denied for DDD of the lumbar spine, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, left foot condition, and right foot condition are granted. The Board found that the Veteran had symptoms of sleep apnea during service and is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for migraine headaches was granted, and service connection for this condition is now established.,Service connection for major depressive disorder has been denied due to the lack of evidence showing an increase in severity since August 7, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain employment that could be considered substantially gainful versus just marginal in comparison, and the Board finds he is entitled to a TDIU benefit.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board finds that it should be remanded for a VA examination to determine its baseline level of severity prior to aggravation by his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and PTSD, and his sleep apnea. The examiner was asked to provide opinions on whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, and TDIU due to individual unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and granulomatous lung disease. Service connection was granted for COPD.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions provided in a previous remand. The case is being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma is claimed to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, but a VA examiner found this unlikely. The Board has ordered further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of erectile dysfunction and sleep apnea for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral spondylosis/arthritis, bilateral upper and lower extremity neurologic disabilities, and right shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examinations and medical opinions.

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

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability. The burial benefits claim is denied as the application for benefits was received after two years of the Veteran's burial, and the other requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.1705 are not met.