Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during active duty service and has granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and radiculopathy in both lower extremities, preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane. The Board finds that this meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Board finds that the issues of whether severance of service connection for PTSD was proper, and entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are currently before it as they are inextricably intertwined with the appellate issues of the effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD and the initial rating assigned for PTSD. The Veteran's period of honorable active service has already been finally adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including asking examiners to determine if PTSD aggravates OSA. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected right sphenoid sinus polyp with secondary sinusitis and bilateral concha bullosa warrants a 50 percent evaluation for the entire appeal period, as his symptoms have been constant throughout.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritic changes.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities, left lower extremity blood clots, and other service connection claims. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including feminine issues to include tubal ligation, fungal infection of the skin, status post lumbosacral spine strain, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder, are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, lumbosacral spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder, meet the criteria for a TDIU. The combined rating is 80 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed OSA was not related to his service and is not etiologically related to his service-connected AF.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a disability rating of 30 percent for mood disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered in determining the appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, low back pain, and neck pain claims were granted. The Veteran's headaches and bilateral shoulder problems/disability claims were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoid disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met at any point during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia and GERD disability are currently rated as 30 percent disabling effective August 21, 2012. The Board has found that the criteria for an increased rating to a maximum of 60 percent have not been met at any point during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain (back disability) is currently rated as 40 percent disabling, effective December 14, 2012. The Board has determined that the criteria for a higher rating to a maximum of 60 percent have not been met at any point during the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal disorder, plantar fasciitis, and sleep apnea are related to his service-connected conditions or occurred during active duty. As such, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that a separate rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is warranted as of June 8, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred during or as a result of service, nor is it secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not caused by, secondary to, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by her service-connected PTSD.