Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not related to his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and opinions to address the nature and etiology of his claimed respiratory disability, heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral lower extremity circulatory/vascular disability, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for paresthesia of the skin of the upper lip and facial buccal mucosa maxilla is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for residuals of laceration of the lip is also denied.

The Veteran's initial 60% rating for coronary artery disease was reduced to 10%, effective December 1, 2012. The Veteran is now entitled to a 60% rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest in service and is not related to service. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and associated radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are rated at 40 percent, with separate ratings for each affected limb.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and other conditions like sleep apnea, hypertension, and carpal tunnel syndrome, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder impingement, back disability (lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease), and bilateral knee chondromalacia do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The current ratings of 20 percent for each condition are deemed adequate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and sarcoidosis have been granted service connection, with the sarcoidosis receiving a 10% rating for respiratory impairment since February 17, 2004, and a 60% rating for extrapulmonary involvement of the skin.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as aggravated by service-connected PTSD and asthma, but denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine and herniated nucleus pulposis are not rated higher than 40 percent, and his lumbar radiculopathy is not rated higher than 20 percent. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction are found to be the primary causes of his sleep apnea. The Board grants secondary service connection for sleep apnea and finds that medication for the Veteran's service-connected conditions cause his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's lower back disability is currently rated at 60 percent effective November 6, 2012. He also receives a TDIU from November 1, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 15, 2010. The RO denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and sleep apnea in the May 2011 rating decision. Service connection was granted for these conditions in subsequent decisions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep disabilities are related to his military service, including as secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 1, 1999 for a grant of TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating of lumbosacral strain and TDIU prior to February 6, 2017. The claim for service connection for amputated right index finger was not addressed due to a pending hearing.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during his active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding an increased rating for lumbar spine disability.