Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's spouse was not added to his compensation award prior to June 1, 2011 due to the lack of timely submission of a VA Form 21-686(c) declaration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at the lowest possible non-compensable level.,Tinnitus has been assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, which cannot be increased further under current criteria.,Sleep apnea is currently rated at the highest available schedular rating (50%), and no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence provided.,The Veteran's heart disorder is currently rated at 30%, with no higher rating being granted due to lack of specific findings supporting a higher level of disability.,PTSD has been rated as 30% prior to October 31, 2013, and 50% thereafter. No higher ratings are warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel and medical records, scheduling examinations, and seeking private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset in service and are related to his current condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, and his hypertension is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's deviated nasal septum, finding it likely related to an in-service injury. The issue of whether his obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by this condition remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and allergic rhinitis. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increases in the staged ratings of his lumbar spine disability, and initial increases in the staged ratings of radiculopathy left lower extremity. The Board has remanded these issues.,Service connection was granted for radiculopathy left lower extremity secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and requests for another one during a flare-up. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being evaluated again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The cases of hypertension, gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia, gastritis and GERD), and lupus erythematosus, discoid are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a right leg skin condition are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in determining whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected thyroid disability. The case will be returned for a new VA examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have at least as likely as not prevented her from engaging in substantially gainful employment since November 21, 2011. The Board finds TDIU is warranted as of November 21, 2011 based on the evidence currently of record.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as gastrointestinal disability. The back disability is attributed to an in-service injury. Right and left ankle disabilities are not shown to be related to service or any other condition. Gastrointestinal disability is not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain relevant treatment records for a sleep disorder, including a December 9, 2008 Pulmonary Initial Evaluation Note and a 2009 sleep study from Central Arkansas VHS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition, right knee condition, sleep apnea, and headaches due to lack of evidence or insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to unclear opinions from Dr. W.J.T.