Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of PTSD is granted, effective from March 12, 2014. The decision also grants an effective date of November 18, 2013 for the initial grant of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and grants a total unemployability rating due to service-connected disabilities since November 18, 2013.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, and headache disability are granted service connection. However, hypertension is denied as it did not manifest within one year of the Veteran's discharge from active duty.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as they are moot due to his death in July 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral elbow disorder (to include arthritis), bilateral knee disorder (to include arthritis), bilateral hand disorder (to include arthritis), and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements suggest these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The VA examiner did not provide information regarding functional limitations caused by flare-ups, which is required for a proper evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating from July 7, 2008 to July 15, 2009. A separate 10 percent rating for right lumbar radiculopathy is granted effective July 7, 2008 and a 20 percent rating is granted effective February 9, 2017.

The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are granted. Headaches have been denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The ratings for acne rosacea and bunionectomy are remanded due to the need for further examination during an active period of flare-up.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent from January 31, 2011 to August 9, 2016. From October 1, 2016 to the present, a higher rating for his back disability is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and total disability based on individual unemployability are remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct another VA examination regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: 1) an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for fracture of the right medial malleolus, 2) an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, 3) service connection for a disability of the nose (claimed as broken nose), and 4) service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to a disability of the nose. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to an extraschedular rating for lumbosacral strain and a higher rating for his mood disorder, depression, depressive disorder, NOS, and major depressive disorder. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed cervical spine disability, spondylotic myelopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea. The issues are related as they involve diagnoses that may be secondary to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date for the higher evaluation of DDD of the lumbar spine was not earlier than June 21, 2012.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss, as well as seeking an earlier effective date for service connection of lumbosacral strain, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a link to service.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right hand tremors, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on both issues, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition related to in-service stressors. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood claim was granted, and the case is remanded for further examination regarding sleep apnea.