Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service. The Board also found that sleep apnea was not caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea manifested in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lower back disability and initial rating for his left leg radiculopathy was denied. The lower back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, while the left leg radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, left knee disability (arthritis), bilateral athlete's foot, muscle pain, joint pain, sleep disorder (sleep apnea), and respiratory disorder (asthma). The appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's death in August 2010 was not related to a service-connected disability or service, and the Board finds no basis to grant service connection for any of the issues raised.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolving in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and leiomyosarcoma.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and migraines due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran's testimony indicates that his headaches began in service, and VA treatment records suggest a possible link between his current migraine headaches and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an audio malfunction during his September 2016 videoconference hearing. He was granted a service connection for right knee instability in July 2016 and that claim is not currently on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, or left middle finger disability. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and additional development is needed.

The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea began during or is otherwise related to service, and it is also not caused by his service-connected knee disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and found that the Veteran's depressive disorder warrants a 50 percent evaluation, effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and a sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea) were denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus was set at December 10, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus prior to December 10, 2009, is not supported by the evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headaches, sleep apnea, and asthma were not incurred in or related to active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected PTSD or any undiagnosed illness. The VA examiner concluded that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his active military service, including in-service environmental exposures, or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease L5-S1.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his in-service fatigue and/or his service-connected COPD, and whether this condition was permanently worsened by his service-connected COPD.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these claims prior to their adjudication.