Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain, including surgery residuals, has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea was withdrawn.

The Board has awarded a 40 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, which meets the criteria as per VA regulations.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and opinions on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability, migraine headaches, and sleep disorder are all related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected deviated septum. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory condition, including OSA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and myopia (claimed as decrease in vision) are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to these conditions, with no nexus established between any such disability and active service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right hip disability to include right hip bursitis and arthritis had their onset during active service, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's skin disability of the feet, claimed as tinea pedis, is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service and granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 60 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability and for a TDIU due exclusively to this disability. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for a bilateral thumb disability and fibrositis in multiple joints were also addressed, but the Veteran's requests to reopen these claims were not granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension have been granted. The remaining claims are pending.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disability and left foot disability remain pending as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen them.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the cause remains unknown due to conflicting dates provided by the Veteran.,Service connection is denied for vitiligo. The cause remains unknown due to conflicting dates provided by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and shoulder disability remain pending as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen them.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left arm disability, and left leg disability remain pending as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen them.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder injury (claimed as bilateral shoulder injury/pain), left shoulder injury (claimed as bilateral shoulder injury/pain), right leg injury (claimed as bilateral leg injury/pain), and left leg injury (claimed as bilateral leg injury/pain). The Veteran has not appealed these decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD, OSA, and headaches are service-connected. The right foot condition is not service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and loss of sense of smell, finding that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a sleep disorder, which he claims is related to his PTSD. The Board has determined that an examination is needed to clarify the relationship between any current sleep apnea disability and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral lower and upper peripheral neuropathy, with effective dates prior to March 7, 2013.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed in service and continues to the present, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. He was granted a 50% rating effective January 2016.,Prior to September 21, 2015, the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was not characterized by unfavorable ankylosis. From September 21, 2015, his condition has been characterized as having unfavorable ankylosis and he is now rated at 50% effective January 2016.,Prior to December 4, 2015, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was characterized by mild incomplete paralysis. From December 4, 2015, his condition has been characterized as moderate incomplete paralysis and he is now rated at 20% effective January 2016.,Prior to December 4, 2015, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was characterized by mild incomplete paralysis. From December 4, 2015, his condition has been characterized as moderate incomplete paralysis and he is now rated at 20% effective January 2016.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are September 24, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD and sleep apnea are service-connected, with the sleep apnea being secondary to his PTSD.