Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and missing private treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant military and private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, muscle spasms, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current disability related to military service or any other valid basis for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to his active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for a compensable rating for scar, rectum status post-surgery. The medical evidence did not support a finding that the scar aggravated or caused the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and sleep apnea due to potential service connection issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address secondary service connection. The Veteran should be provided with a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is denied for increased ratings, as the evidence does not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less and no ankylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for left shoulder condition is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition.,Service connection for right knee strain (right knee condition) is denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea claimed as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his now service-connected asthma, but a remand is needed for an addendum opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for a right arm condition is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current disability is not related to service.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied because the earliest communication prior to November 6, 2014 did not constitute a claim for this condition.,Service connection for bilateral feet disability and bilateral degenerative joint disease/arthritis of the knees secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions in the June 2015 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded as the January 2015 VA Back Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire did not provide information on additional limitation of motion due to flare-ups or repeated use over time.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between his current sleep apnea and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating for sinusitis, service connection for cataracts, and service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleeping trouble) due to inadequate examinations and incomplete records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals of the denials of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected GERD, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his GERD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, loss of vision, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to lack of a VA examination addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not considering a statement from a fellow service member who reported hearing the Veteran snore loudly and gasp for air during sleep, indicating that his sleep apnea may have started during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher rating.,The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his right shoulder impingement, lumbosacral strain, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have all been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has also been remanded as the VA examination was found invalid.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain was denied. The rating of 10 percent prior to June 1, 2016, and the current rating of 40 percent since that date were both denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the reopening of a previously denied claim for major depressive disorder, as well as claims for tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, PTSD, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and/or housebound status, left wrist limitation of motion, and Parkinson's disease under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to aggravate his sleep apnea, and he is granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches. The case is remanded for further examination regarding SMC based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound.