Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The left ankle disability remains rated at 10 percent, and the issue of a higher rating for the left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart condition and sleep apnea, with a focus on whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and nerve damage with tingling, left hand second digit due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran will need to undergo additional VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied in January 2013. The Board has reopened the claim due to new and material evidence submitted since then, but the case is remanded as further clarification on the relationship between his current sleep disorder and military service is needed.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for Gulf War syndrome (claimed as chronic fatigue) is dismissed.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is granted due to reopening of the claim and evidence showing it is related to service. Secondary service connection for thoracic spine disability, sleep apnea, and chronic lumbar spine disability are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right heel strain, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and eye disability (secondary to PTSD) have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim of service connection for fibromyalgia was dismissed. Her application to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was granted.,Her applications to reopen her claims of service connection for right shoulder impingement, discoid lupus, urticaria, and bilateral galactorrhea were also dismissed. Her application to reopen her claim of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for sinusitis since November 10, 2011 was dismissed.,Her applications to reopen her claims of service connection for psychiatric disability and for a compensable rating for the bilateral breast fibrocystic condition were remanded. Her application to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 29, 2011. The evidence showed that the Veteran was able to work as an electrical engineer and consultant until January 2009, despite some physical impairments.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected PTSD and is requesting a medical opinion to determine if this relationship exists.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence. The Board found no new and material evidence for tinnitus, denied bilateral hearing loss, and remanded other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether his PTSD causes or aggravates his sleep apnea. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been reopened, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development.,Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, OSA, cervical spine disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's heart condition, diabetic retinopathy of the right eye, vision disabilities other than diabetic retinopathy of the right eye, and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The heart condition is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was rated at 10% prior to February 2, 2017, and increased to 20% thereafter. The appeal is denied as the disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, BPH, and DM II. The conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and hypertension, finding new and material evidence. However, the claim for service connection for diverticulitis remains denied as there is no medical nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension has been denied due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the current lumbosacral strain is not related to the in-service lipoma excision and is more likely of recent origin.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for his right breast scar status post-surgical excision right breast gynecomastia was denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher or separate rating were not more nearly approximated.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for his right breast scar status post-surgical excision right breast gynecomastia was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim within one year of separation from service. The RO granted service connection on the date of receipt of claim, May 22, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for his right wrist ganglion cyst (claimed as right-hand arthritis), sleep apnea (claimed as a sleep disorder), hypertension, and migraine headaches were all denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition to include post-traumatic stress disorder and persistent depressive disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD have been denied. The TDIU issue is being remanded.