Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran is granted service connection for sleep apnea and a noncompensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, specifically contending that his current sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and residuals of prostate cancer. The Board finds the current record inadequate to make a fully-informed decision regarding causation and aggravation, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension are caused by his service-connected PTSD, thus granting service connection for these conditions as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA purposes and thus cannot be granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's neck disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. For TDIU, the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements as his combined disability rating is less than 70%.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and scheduling VA examinations. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not manifest during or as a result of his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The right eye disability is related to service, the left foot/toe and hip/hand/knee disabilities are all found to be secondary to his service-connected knee disability, and he has a separate 10% rating for atrophy of the left leg due to his knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his ocular surface disease, lumbosacral strain with 50 percent L1 compression, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and asthma are rated under a single 50% disability rating. The criteria for separate ratings for these conditions do not apply due to the overlapping manifestations of breathing difficulties, and pyramiding is prohibited by regulation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis. The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for an effective date prior to August 5, 2015 for tinnitus has also been denied.,The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical development to clarify the etiology of his carpal tunnel syndrome and to assess the severity of his hearing loss and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial ratings of cervical fusion, lumbosacral strain with lumbar spondylosis, and left shoulder status post arthroscopic surgery.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep apnea disability and restless leg syndrome began during, or were otherwise caused by, his active duty service.,Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for service connection have been met for both conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral glaucoma, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, hypertension, and LLE radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 28, 2011 for the award of service connection for sleep apnea was denied as no earlier effective date is assignable due to lack of medical evidence confirming a diagnosis prior to that date.

The Veteran's detrusser instability is related to her service-connected lumbosacral strain with transitional vertebra disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an additional opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is or has been aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further consideration.