Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for fatty liver with elevated liver enzymes, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle disability, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and fractured right ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The effective date for the 50% rating for PTSD has also been denied.

The Veteran's current spine symptoms are more likely due to a non-service connected injury (gunshot wound) and not his service-connected lumbosacral sprain, thus denying a compensable rating for the condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, residuals of stroke (secondary to PTSD), and headaches. Additional records from SSA are needed, as well as new VA examinations for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is granted, with an effective date of June 22, 2015.,Service connection for a headache condition as secondary to service-connected PTSD is granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine, finding that the current disability picture does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran's respiratory conditions were merged into one disability rating of 100 percent as of June 1, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, back and leg conditions, heart condition, foot conditions, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, gastrointestinal issues, eye conditions, erectile dysfunction, and heat prostration. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional evidence and/or argument on this matter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to hypothyroidism. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, sleep apnea, generalized sensory peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, and TMJ are not supported by the evidence. The appeals are being remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was previously denied, but has been reopened due to new evidence. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability, a neurocognitive disorder (Lewy body disease), and sleep apnea. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, residual gunshot wound of neck and right shoulder, scars, painful scar, posterior neck, post shrapnel wound, synechecia left inferior nasal turbinate to septum with sinusitis, post endoscopy with septoplasty, and service connection for high cholesterol were also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are now service-connected. The effective dates for these benefits are April 26, 2017. The Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance for his spouse to qualify for SMC.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea (obstructive, central, mixed) due to new evidence submitted. However, it is denied as the condition did not have its onset during service or within one year of service and is not otherwise causally related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.