Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have its onset in service, is not otherwise related to service, and is not shown to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected dysthymic disorder and/or coronary artery disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable disability rating, and his claim for service connection of sleep apnea was denied as it did not manifest during or as a result of military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disc herniation and bulging, neural foraminal narrowing, and stenosis are currently rated at 40 percent. The appeal is granted as the Veteran retains some range of motion in his back.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not shown to be related to his active service or to a service-connected disability, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and asthma were not incurred in service and are not otherwise related to service. The Board found that the conditions are diagnosable with known causes, and there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and Gulf War service or undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and improper reduction of her disability rating, finding that she was not entitled to either.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling new VA examinations to address the claims of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder and gynecological disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the AOJ for initial adjudication of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 6, 2015. The case must be readjudicated and any benefit on appeal must be denied if still denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine, migraines, and other conditions, have rendered him in need of aid and attendance. He is therefore granted special monthly compensation based on a demonstrated need for such assistance.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability has been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation at any point.

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

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those pertaining to the evaluation of spine and foot conditions, service connection for hip replacements, pes planus, arthritis, PTSD, and residuals of syphilis. The appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and remanded it for further development. The decision on the sleep apnea secondary to PTSD issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical addendum to address the Veteran's inservice snoring history and its relation to his current OSA.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to active service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was less likely than not secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain at L5-S1 was rated as 10 percent disabling prior to July 21, 2016. After that date, the rating was increased to 40 percent.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU beginning on December 6, 2006 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU beginning on and after November 30, 2015 is moot as it would be a duplication of the existing disability picture.