Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected asthma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether the service-connected asthma aggravated the Veteran's current sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, depression (secondary to service-connected multiple sclerosis), and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to her active duty service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 8, 2001 for the 50 percent rating assigned for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his COPD, OSA, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA will provide a new examination for these conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be incurred during his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of a compensable rating for tension headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were at least as likely as not caused by in-service, acoustic trauma. The left shoulder condition, neck condition, and OSA are all granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied as there is no evidence of an increase in severity during service. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have its onset in service and was not caused by or incurred in service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's asthma was not found to be related to service or environmental exposures. Service connection for OSA and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, were denied.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability did not have onset during active service and was not caused by active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining claim, regarding hypertension as secondary to PTSD, is pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance due to the use of a back brace in 2014 is denied as the brace does not qualify under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine-type headaches, lumbar myositis, cervical myositis, right (major) shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee sprain residuals, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, he is granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine disability and his military service, including an in-service injury or event. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the initial rating of 40 percent assigned for residuals of a compression fracture of the T-12 with osteoarthritis as of January 13, 2017. The radiculopathy claim was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and a left lower extremity disability have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during active duty service at Lowry Air Force Base (Lowry AFB) in Colorado.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea began during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, dermatitis and skin disorder, headaches, and PTSD as they have already been granted by the RO.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions are inadequate and requires a remand for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service.