Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a toe disorder is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder characterized as myopia and astigmatism was previously denied in March 2012, and the claim cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The effective date for service connection for PTSD is denied because VA did not receive a formal or informal claim within one year after separation from service. The claim was received on March 4, 2016.,The effective date for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied as the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to March 4, 2016.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain was previously denied in March 2012 and cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, finding that the condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, effective from the date of separation from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for anxiety and tinnitus are denied as they were not received within one year after separation from service. The Board grants an effective date of September 5, 2013, for these conditions.,Service connection for left hand disability, right hand disability, right leg disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder caused him to become obese, which in turn led to his obstructive sleep apnea. The Board granted service connection for the obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and also granted a TDIU effective from August 12, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, bilateral pterygium, and truncal dermatitis and onychomycosis of the bilateral great toe nails require additional development due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's maxillary/ethmoid sinusitis with left nasal deformity, status post rhinoplasty, is granted a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine L5-S1, status post lumbar laminotomy and diskectomy, with degenerative joint disease and invertebral disc syndrome, is denied any increase beyond the current 40 percent rating. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also denied any increase beyond the current 20 percent rating. The Veteran's contact dermatitis of the feet and HPV are both denied initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus type II, and sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are granted in part.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities. The decision also reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for tinnitus has been assigned.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory condition and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence collection.,Service connection for a respiratory condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis, and the claim for sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right leg disability, left arm disability, high blood pressure, headaches, and sleep apnea. The decision also granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD, but denied service connection for headaches as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence of chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale requiring tracheostomy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The Veteran was not diagnosed with sleep apnea until 21 years after separation from service, and his statements regarding symptoms are considered insufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection and rating issues related to the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, high cholesterol, hypertension, GERD, diabetes mellitus type II, rhinitis (claimed as allergies), and obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of service connection remains March 18, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that further examination is necessary to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment for the periods of October 17, 2012 to May 7, 2013; August 1, 2013 to October 22, 2013; and February 1, 2014 to April 27, 2015. As a result, TDIU was granted for these periods.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and right ankle osteoarthritis is found to be related to playing soccer in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, spine, and knee conditions. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.