Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including VA treatment records. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, hearing loss (right ear), GERD, skin condition, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a nervous condition. The Board also dismissed the claim for lumbago and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss are granted, but the issue of a compensable disability rating for his hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated at 80 percent combined, and are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection, with a current rating of 'Granted'.,Respiratory Disorder (COPD) was denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or relationship to service.,Sleep Disorder (other than Sleep Apnea) was denied as the Veteran's sleep impairment is linked to his PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to adjudicate the special monthly compensation claim and has therefore remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The Veteran is asked to provide updated VA treatment records and undergo a VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for hemorrhoids is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 20 percent for surgical incision of the right heel from September 23, 2009, entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a neck disability are all REMANDED.

The Veteran's urinary disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left testicle removal. The effective date for this grant is July 14, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected traumatic deviated nasal septum status post septoplasty. The Board also found in equipoise regarding the relationship between sinusitis and the service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a status post lumbosacral spine with fusion and degenerative disc disease of the lower back, as well as alcohol dependence secondary to a lumbosacral spine condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to insufficient opinions regarding causation or aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the claims as they are no longer relevant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tachycardia is denied as a matter of law. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to his combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthritis. The effective date for the grant of service connection remains May 22, 2012.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign hypertrophy of the prostate, hypertension as a result of exposure to herbicides, and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any service-connected conditions. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 3, 2014 are denied as the earliest possible effective date has already been assigned.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied as he has been assigned the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected sinusitis is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the evaluation of lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and the TDIU claim due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide additional medical records, a new VA examination is required, and the claims will be re-adjudicated.