Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including arthritis of the shoulders, elbows, hands, neck, back, hips, COPD, sleep apnea, and hypertension, have been denied as there is no competent evidence that any such disability may be etiologically related to his service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.,Diabetes mellitus and Parkinson’s disease are remanded as the exposure basis has not been adequately developed.,Sleep apnea is remanded as it is secondary to diabetes mellitus, which also needs to be resolved first.,Parotid gland adenoma is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding radiation exposure.,Service connection for parotid gland adenoma will need further development under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service in various ways. Service connection was granted for an unspecified depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain/dysfunction.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of brucellosis, and the claim for brucellosis is denied. The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50%.

This decision dismisses all claims for service connection. The Veteran's bowel disorder, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II have been granted in full by a March 2018 rating decision.,The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with anterolisthesis and degenerative disc disease is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's disability warrants a higher than 30 percent rating at any point during the relevant period.,The claim for a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted from September 24, 2012 to July 18, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2016 VA examination and the Veteran's reported worsening symptoms. A new examination is necessary to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits due to insufficient information regarding his income and net worth, preventing a determination of eligibility.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder (other than right-hand ganglion cyst and secondary surgical scar) and a back disorder. The claim of service connection for a stomach disorder, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed skin disorders or back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, sleep apnea, and a higher rating for generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD have been denied. The appeal is remanded for further action on the claim for anemia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an adequate VA opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple myeloma was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The claim of service connection for a respiratory condition (including asthma, COPD and sleep apnea) is denied because new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,The claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its etiology and consideration of herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint and disc disease is rated at 40 percent, but the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to worsening symptoms. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cervical myositis and denied it on the merits. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and Wolff Parkinson White disease are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches. Service connections for sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder, NOS and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the April 2014 rating decision does not include new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current treatment records do not provide a link between his in-service experiences and his current condition, nor do they suggest any aggravation of an existing condition.

The Board has found an indication of a link between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service, but more evidence is needed to decide the claim.