Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected residual scars, bilateral lower quadrants, associated with laparoscopic hernia repairs is dismissed.,A 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability is denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current condition to active service and concluded that his symptoms are not related to any incident during service. For the left shoulder, a 30% rating effective March 8, 2013, was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings and a need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. The decision also denied secondary service connection for obesity-related sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right lobectomy for lung cancer, secondary to asbestos exposure, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, secondary to GERD, is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergies, due to asbestos exposure, is remand.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if his sleep apnea and left shoulder disability are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, numbness in the right hand, bilateral knee disability, left hip disability, spinal meningitis, and sleep apnea. The effective dates for these issues are not addressed as they are being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gynecological disorder, finding that her current diagnoses and surgical residuals are not related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for nose bleeds, heart disability, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral wrist disability due to insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its initial onset during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's claims, and a new VA examination is required for several issues. The effective date of service connection for migraine headaches remains under review.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his deviated septum. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified VA medical professional.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any diagnosed sleep disorder, including insomnia and sleep apnea. The examiner must also opine whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed sleep disorder is caused or aggravated by his chronic lumbar syndrome with disc degeneration.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gout and low back condition, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The request to reopen the finally disallowed claims of service connection for hypertension and PFS of the right knee, as well as for psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, to include the elbows, hands, feet, right knee, and fingers, are all granted. However, the claim for an increased rating for PFS of the left knee with Baker's cyst is denied.

The Veteran's mild degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels is granted as service-connected.,His left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are denied as not related to his service.,His depression is granted as service-connected.,His sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,His headaches are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinea pedis (bilateral feet) and PFB (previously rated noncompensable) are granted with a 30% rating effective June 25, 2012.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and trichotillomania. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of the requested actions.