Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU on a schedular basis and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. For his hepatitis B and C, the Veteran received a 10% rating based on intermittent fatigue, malaise, anorexia, but without incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's heart murmur is not a disability for VA purposes, and service connection cannot be granted.,Sleep apnea has been rated at the maximum 50% level due to use of CPAP machine. It does not meet criteria for higher ratings based on respiratory failure or tracheostomy.,Right shoulder degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 20%, which aligns with limitation of motion at shoulder level (170 degrees flexion).,Left knee tendonitis has been rated at the maximum 10% level, reflecting no more than normal range of motion and pain on movement.,Hypertension has not required compensable ratings as it is controlled by medication with diastolic pressure below 100 and systolic pressure consistently below 160.,Psoriasis affects less than five percent of exposed or unexposed areas without requiring systemic corticosteroid or immunosuppressive drugs.

The Board found that the reduction in the evaluation for chronic lumbosacral strain from 40% to 10% was improper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are service-connected as they were present during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied, with the Acting Director of Compensation Service finding that there were no circumstances outside the norm which would justify a TDIU based solely on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records related to her disability benefits claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during his active service and is related to his military service, thus granting service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer, heart disability, immune deficiency, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding potential exposure to toxic materials during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability, right knee disability, or sleep apnea-hypopnea that began during his active duty service. The Veteran's vertigo and migraines are also denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's OSA was not manifested in service or for many years thereafter, and is not shown to be related to his service or to have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis. Therefore, the claim of service connection for OSA, to include as secondary to sinusitis, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol abuse, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in, or caused by, his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is addressed in a separate REMAND portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have its onset during service, is not otherwise related to service, and is not proximately due or the result of a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is not causally or etiologically related to active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in a recent VA opinion and unclear findings regarding the relationship between sleep apnea and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether her sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected psychotic disorder.