Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active duty service in 2010, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims regarding entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development, including new examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea should be remanded due to inadequate opinion in the October 2012 VA examination and need for additional lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Veteran's conditions were found not to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was first diagnosed during service, and the Board finds that it manifested in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have significantly impacted his ability to work, and the Board finds that he is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions. As a result, TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and GERD are not related to service, while his right knee strain and left knee MCL strain were resolved in-service. The Board also found no evidence of an undiagnosed illness under Persian Gulf War criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for OSA is remanded as there was inadequate rationale provided in the VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he asserts had its onset during his most recent period of active duty. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain another medical opinion regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a sleep disorder, to include obstructive sleep apnea. The Board has determined that another remand is required due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of his current sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his neck disorder and lumbosacral strain. The claims will be reconsidered in light of Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions and need for clarification on theories of service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service, including whether any are related to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for service connection.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran's allergic rhinitis to his military service. However, the examiner opined that the condition may be related to exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination, including SSA records and VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and TDIU are all part of this appeal.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent, but no more, effective since August 25, 2017. Bilateral hearing loss is not compensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered in determining service connection for sleep apnea and a disability rating for pilonidal cyst.

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