Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are service-connected. The decision also indicates that a claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, and he was granted a 20% disability rating for his back disability prior to February 23, 2011. However, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 40% thereafter.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, COPD, and headache disorder are not service-connected as they did not develop during his military service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's OSA is found to be secondary to his service-connected COPD. The initial rating for bipolar disorder has been granted at 30 percent, and the residuals of right pleuritis and right basal pneumonia with COPD have also received a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to address the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, neurological conditions, and bilateral eye pterygium.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to place the relevant evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a back disability related to service, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with herniated disc disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral leg disability is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for TDIU was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine DDD with facet arthritis was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's deviated nasal septum and obstructive sleep apnea are related to service, specifically to a traumatic event during service. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in permanent and total disability that would qualify him for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an additional VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including whether his currently diagnosed sleep apnea began in or is otherwise related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, dementia, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's low back disorder is not presumed to have been incurred in service due to lack of evidence within one year post-service separation. Dementia was not shown during service or within the presumptive period. Sleep apnea is not related to service.,The VA examiner found no evidence of a chronic disease during service and denied service connection for low back disorder, dementia, and sleep apnea.

The Board found that the reduction in the evaluation of service-connected lumbosacral strain from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper and restored the prior rating. The Veteran's migraine headaches were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus, type II during his March 2017 hearing. The claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed sleep disorder, including sleep apnea. The service connection claim for GERD as secondary to sleep apnea was denied. For the initial rating period from September 24, 2008 to May 1, 2010, an initial disability rating of 10% for GERD was granted.