Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral eye disorders are all found to have onset during service.

The Veteran's residuals of shrapnel wounds of the right heel have been rated as a 10 percent disability since March 24, 2010. The decision also granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and depressive disorder NOS.

The Veteran is granted service connection for hives, gastritis, and sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. His diabetes mellitus remains at a 20% rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the highest available schedular evaluation, and no higher rating can be granted based on functional loss. The claims for increased ratings for asthma and service connection for sleep apnea, a neck disorder, left hand disability (held in abeyance), and a left shoulder disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD and obstructive sleep apnea, were not incurred in service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure or other events that could have caused the conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with the reduction in rating for his service-connected back disability. The increased rating claim and the issue regarding the reduction are intertwined and need to be addressed separately.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and found that the Veteran's combined rating is at least 70%, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, anxiety disorder, sinusitis, left hip strain, bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and hiatal hernia, are deemed to preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification of his service connection claims, particularly regarding periods of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) had its onset during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, PTSD, and sleep apnea are all service-connected. The decision is based on credible medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and low back disability, finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee disability and a diagnosis of PTSD are also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, erectile dysfunction, skin condition as due to undiagnosed illness, obstructive sleep apnea, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, low back condition, hypertension, and right shoulder condition.,However, some of these issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for deep vein thrombosis, right hip and knee conditions, and a reduction in the rating of his lumbar spine disability have been granted. The right knee condition is now considered secondary to his service-connected left knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II were also denied as there was no evidence showing that these conditions required regulation of activities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica, and a chronic sinus disorder due to new evidence provided by a private physician. The appeals are granted in these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not attributable to his active military service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, including diabetes mellitus and PTSD. Therefore, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of his hip conditions and sleep apnea were denied as they are secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's dysthymia with depression, bilateral hearing loss disability, and sleep apnea are all found to be related to his service-connected left shoulder condition. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his distal clavicle resection of the left shoulder.