Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or related to his active military service, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development and requires additional medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during service and is not related to his military service or PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection, but secondary service connection was denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a disability rating of 20 percent for plantar calluses effective February 20, 2015. Service connection for heart condition and diabetes mellitus are also granted as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 10 percent, effective May 11, 2009.,Prior to February 16, 2012, the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was rated at 30 percent.,From February 16, 2012, the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 60 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including referral to VA's Chief Benefits Director or the Director of VA's Compensation Service for a determination as to his entitlement to an extra-schedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The Board finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his active military service, specifically his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a schedular TDIU was denied as he did not meet the percentage thresholds for such. The Board found that his combined rating of 60% disabling from service-connected disabilities does not meet the requirements for a schedular TDIU. An extra-schedular TDIU is being referred to the Director, Compensation Service.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's right knee disability is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine, and/or contusion of right hip.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraines, and other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extraschedular evaluation. The Board denied his claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 10, 2010.

The Board has found that the Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claim for sleep apnea. The case is therefore being remanded to provide a VA examination and obtain additional evidence related to both claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, hygroma (claimed as fluid on the brain), deviated septum, sleep apnea, PTSD and dysthymic disorder has been withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not shown during active service and is not related to active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic low back syndrome with intermittent lumbosacral strain does not currently manifest in any symptoms and is attributed to nonservice-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine. As a result, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine disability is related to active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the January 2012 VA examination report, and an additional medical opinion is needed to reconcile conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his OSA.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service, including due to herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected hepatitis B. The claim was denied.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for lumbosacral strain prior to July 10, 2003. The claim remains pending for an increased rating from July 10, 2003.