Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, requires further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 28, 2018. The Board finds that a higher rating is warranted for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may have started during his military service, but needs further medical examination to confirm this.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low spine disability, but remanded her claims for left hip disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, breathing problems, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service or exposure to chemicals in service.,The Board also denied service connection for breathing problems and sleep apnea, attributing these conditions to known clinical diagnoses rather than undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board denied service connection for lower back and bilateral knee conditions, but granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and toenail condition. The rating assigned for tinnitus is 10%. Service connection was also granted for PTSD with a TDIU determination.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for sleep apnea, dizziness, muscle and joint pain, left and right-hand tremors, muscle movement disorder in the eyes, muscle movement disorder in the tongue, and tingling and cramping in the legs. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide further opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including sleep apnea, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant medical records, request SSA disability benefits information, provide a VCAA notice letter regarding secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, attempt to corroborate in-service stressors, and obtain addendum opinions from VA clinicians.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for sleep apnea with hypersomnolence as secondary to a service-connected deviated septum. The Board concluded there was no current diagnosis of sleep apnea or other sleep-related disability in the record.,Regarding bilateral ingrown toenails, the Board found that while the Veteran reported pain and instability, his condition did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's back pain existed during service and was thus incurred coincident with service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, and kidney disorder must be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, need for further examinations, and other procedural issues. The claims will be adjudicated again after all requested information is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional opinions regarding her sleep apnea, including whether it is related to service-connected conditions or due to exposure during deployment.

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and mental disorder (claimed as a psychiatric condition). The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since May 23, 2017.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and a combined disability rating of 80 percent due to procedural issues. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, and entitlement to increased ratings for left femur disabilities. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent or permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and there is no evidence of housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the period prior to March 15, 2017. For the period beginning March 15, 2017, a higher rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.