Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for OSA was withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of a fragment wound of the left posterior calf muscle group XI and scars of the left posterior calf is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to January 20, 2010, but not in excess of that rating from March 1, 2010.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no probative medical opinion linking his current disorder to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and basal cell carcinoma due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that there is no legal basis to award separate schedular evaluations for tinnitus in each ear.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that it was at least as likely as not aggravated by his PTSD.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied, and the denial is upheld.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for reactive airway disease (asthma) was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 6, 2013 is granted. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment during this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions and missing treatment records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, as the stress from PTSD led to overeating and weight gain, which resulted in sleep apnea. The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, foot, and cervical spine disabilities were previously denied. New evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,Service connection was granted for a headache disorder secondary to tinnitus and major depressive disorder, and OSA was also granted as secondary to major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The Veteran's posttraumatic tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and granted service connection for headaches, major depressive disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The cervical spine disability claim remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided in September 2013 were inadequate, as they did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected TBI or PTSD aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion from a clinician.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, malaria, brucellosis, Coxiella burnetii, chronic fatigue syndrome, mycobacterium tuberculosis, sleep apnea, angina pectoris, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), amyloidosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chloracne, and hemorrhage as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and unspecified depressive disorder associated with his back condition are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional information from Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), cold injury residuals of the hands, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, stroke, craniotomy, and headaches have been denied. The cases are remanded to obtain clarification on the Veteran’s periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA, and for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including chronic pain and tendonitis, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, low back disability, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, and a rating for dysthymia and panic disorder. The Board also ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained.