Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand for an addendum medical advisory opinion to address the likely etiology of the Veteran's back disability, considering her service records and post-service treatment history.

The Veteran's back disability was not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of a chronic disease that became manifest within one year post-service. The initial rating for right foot scars was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and that it is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee disability. The claims will be considered again after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected coccidiomycosis with left lower lung lobe resection and obstructive sleep apnea has not resulted in chronic pulmonary mycosis requiring suppressive therapy, while his lumbar radiculopathy disability has been manifested by right foot drop and atrophy of the muscles in his right lower extremity. Therefore, he is not entitled to increased initial ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to June 20, 2009 and requesting a supplemental opinion from the June 2014 examiner regarding the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorder and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury, including his service-connected renal disease with hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as an appropriate VA examination to address the claims of service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his lumbosacral spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, treatment records, and further development of his service-connected lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Saigon Hospital and private medical records. The claim of service connection for a low back disability will be addressed, as well as the issue of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his back disability. The TDIU issue will also be deferred until after the additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service symptoms of snoring and difficulty breathing during sleep.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the likelihood that his current disabilities were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a sleep disorder. As a result, the Board dismisses this issue.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for rosacea was denied. The VA examinations conducted throughout the appeal period consistently found that less than 20 percent of exposed areas were affected, which is consistent with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood), drug and alcohol abuse, and sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection could not be established as the Veteran's personality disorder is not a disease or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation.