Sleep apnea Board decisions

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, including as secondary to a service-connected right knee condition, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not service connected, as there is no evidence linking it to his military service or a service-connected disability. The cardiac arrhythmia was found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected myocardial infarction.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to May 24, 2012, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine from October 14, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, increased rating for dysphagia with Odynophagia, and increased rating for paraesophageal hernia, esophagitis with gastric pain, status post cardiothoracic surgery and esophageal duplication cyst resection with reflux.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, including headaches. The remaining issues concerning entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for sleep apnea. However, the Veteran's heart disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner will need to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea and teeth grinding, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea disability began during, or was otherwise caused by, his active duty service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of a period of service in the Republic of Korea and examinations to address his claims for sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and sinus/respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is related to his service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his condition had its onset during service. The claims for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and left hand numbness are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues on appeal include initial ratings higher than currently assigned for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, as well as entitlement to a TDIU.