Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his left ear hearing loss and right knee disability are denied. The Board has also remanded the cases for further development.,Service connection for a lower back disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and depression), and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.,However, the Board found that the current diagnoses of these conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran's personnel records need to be obtained, and if applicable, a determination will be made regarding his presumed exposure.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred in and due to his time in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI cognitive residuals, mood disorder associated with TBI, and OSA associated with a skull defect rendered him unemployable from September 8, 2009 through March 7, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The issues include determining whether OSA is proximately due to or permanently aggravated by PTSD, as well as evaluating the severity of PTSD with primary insomnia, dysthymic disorder, and anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, numbness in feet and toes, headaches/migraines with fatigue, and dental disability are all denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship between the claimed conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of obesity is dismissed. The Board grants secondary service connection for sleep apnea as related to asthma, effective November 5, 2012. The Board denies the request for an earlier effective date for asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral spine disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment beginning April 7, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence, and a VA examination is required.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as it is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as it is aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome) is denied as it is not attributable to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and no higher, as he does not require insulin or restriction of activities.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was granted effective March 31, 2014. The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left elbow and wrist disabilities, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, melanoma, and upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes are all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, which contributed to his death. The examiner is required to provide opinions on whether each service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to death and if it aided in the production of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty or National Guard service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected depression and bilateral shoulder disabilities, but denied service connection for hypertension. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for tinnitus.

The Board has denied service connection for numbness in the left toes, neck disability, right ankle disability, OSA, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for secondary service connection are remanded as further medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and PTSD due to lack of a VA examination in some cases and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service, including any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, and therefore grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.