Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD and OSA were found to meet the schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to July 27, 2015. The TDIU was also granted. However, service connection for OSA is not addressed as it is considered 'unknown' due to lack of information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent is denied.,The Veteran's vertigo has been manifested by intermittent dizziness, nausea, and needing to rest; not by occasional staggering. The claim for an increased rating greater than 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected PTSD.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, hypertension increased in severity proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea are found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted a 100% rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder since July 20, 2010.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a sleep disorder, to include chronic obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence shows that his current sleep disorder is related to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, fatigue, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA opinion on whether his sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected hypertension. The preponderance of evidence supports a denial of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not etiologically related to his service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than July 5, 2016 for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The propriety of separate noncompensable ratings for instability of the right and left knees was also addressed but not decided as it is part of higher rating claims. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 5, 2016 remains on appeal.

The Veteran has been rated as 60 percent disabled for back disability since May 15, 1996. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities and grants TDIU from May 15, 1996 to January 23, 2007.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and assigned a 50 percent disability evaluation. The claim of service connection for low back disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disability, to include sleep apnea, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current sleep issues are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have its onset during any period of active duty service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral wrist disability and obstructive sleep apnea are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge from service for the period prior to February 2, 1991 was not a bar to VA benefits. However, his subsequent service during and after this period is considered dishonorable, thus barring him from receiving VA compensation benefits for any diseases or injuries incurred or aggravated during these periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and limb movement disorder are as likely as not having had their clinical onset in service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his back disabilities. The neuropathy claims are also inextricably intertwined with the back claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected restrictive lung disease and to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his sleep apnea.