Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and the Board finds that this meets the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbosacral strain and anterior wedging at T7, is as likely as not due to in-service injury. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with the terms of the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), which includes obtaining clarification on a VHA opinion and seeking additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and a lumbosacral spine disorder, are found to be at least as likely as not preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As such, the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his SSA records and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his cardiac disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of extraschedular criteria.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, left carpal tunnel syndrome, a neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and confirming the USS Hunley was a nuclear-powered ship.

The Veteran's arthrolumbosacral strain and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated, with an increased rating of 40 percent granted for the thoracolumbar spine disability. Separate ratings of 20 percent each were granted for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including COPD, chronic bronchitis, and sleep apnea, are not related to his in-service exposure to asbestos and carbon toxins. The most probative evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his keloids and scar from the removal of cysts has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and granted it, finding that there is a link between the Veteran's in-service symptoms and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left CTS were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, must be remanded due to the need for additional development including an examination and opinion.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service due to weight gain, which was a result of his active duty period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and heart condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including seeking relevant medical records and clarifying the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by undiagnosed ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be service-connected. The appellant's appeal for accrued benefits and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 has been withdrawn or dismissed due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.