Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his lumbar spine disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and that there was insufficient evidence to support service connection or secondary service connection for sleep apnea or TMJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty service.,For the period prior to February 15, 2011, the Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease (now characterized as ischemic heart disease) was granted at a 30% level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and sciatica.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from August 16, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide an addendum opinion regarding his claims for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for various disabilities, and other issues on appeal. The AOJ will also attempt to obtain any outstanding treatment records from the Darnall Army Medical Center.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea was not manifest in service and is unrelated to service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD with a hiatal hernia is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.,Service connection for emphysema and OSA are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, right hand condition, and left hand condition are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is not shown to be related to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea arose during his active duty military service. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and his ability to work.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection. The rating for lumbosacral strain was remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. He will also be scheduled for examinations to address the nature of his cervical spine disorder, right knee replacement with post-traumatic arthritis, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and stenosis, status-post laminectomy, discectomy, and fusion, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected right ear hearing loss. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but malaria is not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent, and his obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is rated at 50 percent. The combined rating for these conditions is 70 percent, meeting the criteria for TDIU. However, the Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations and determine the full extent of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis are related to her active duty service, granting her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection should be granted for sleep apnea, but not for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.