Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected OSA, IHD, and prostate cancer are not related to his active military service. The claims for increased ratings of bilateral hearing loss and left hand disability have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between the Veteran's hypertension or sleep apnea and his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a combined effect that warrants an extra-schedular rating, and his claim for heart disease is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his current lumbosacral strain is not etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral eye disability (temporary blindness) related to service, and his other claimed disabilities are either not supported by evidence of record or do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, neck condition and gastrointestinal condition are all service-connected. The Board has also granted service connection for sinusitis and low back condition. However, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist and knee conditions have not been established as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions and VA examinations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea requires the use of a CPAP machine, but does not meet the criteria for higher ratings as it did not result in chronic respiratory failure or require tracheostomy.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased PTSD rating, service connection for sleep apnea, and TDIU. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed for PTSD due to the Veteran's assertion of worsening symptoms since his last examination in 2015. Additionally, the issue of service connection for sleep apnea is now in appellate status as it was not previously addressed by the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to new evidence and contentions. An addendum opinion will be requested from the April 2016 VA examiner to address whether his sleep apnea is related to in-service low potassium levels, jaw fracture, broken nose, swollen glands from colds, or stomach ulcers. The claim will also consider whether service-connected hypertension may have aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, cervical spine stenosis, and migraine headaches have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection of fibromyalgia and obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence linking these conditions to her active duty or service-connected disabilities. The claim for a higher rating for dysthymic disorder was granted but not appealed.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise with the claim as to whether the Veteran's current disability of degenerative changes in the lumbosacral spine at L4-L5 is related to service. As such, the Veteran's claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and scheduling issues, and will consider referral of TDIU prior to March 11, 2013.

The Veteran is entitled to an initial compensable rating for his lumbosacral strain with myofascial pain of the mid back around the scapulae, and a TDIU effective November 30, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is etiologically related to his active duty service and if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.