Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, as well as to obtain updated medical records regarding his knees. The Veteran will be asked to provide contact information for his ex-wife and authorize VA to obtain non-VA treatment records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have begun during his period of active duty service, and therefore he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The claims to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and diabetes were also denied.

The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea, skin disability, and tumors (cancer) due to service. The examiner should consider medical literature on the relationship between PTSD and sleep apnea, Agent Orange exposure, and presumed diseases.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder arthritis, diffuse arthritis (other than right shoulder), gastrointestinal disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic headache disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not attributable to his military service and does not result from or worsen any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating since the effective date of service connection on April 20, 2009.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have started during his military service and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he indicated satisfaction with the award of a TDIU and wished to withdraw his appeals for higher ratings for back and right shoulder disabilities, or entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarification on the Veteran's dates of service, verify his active duty and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and provide him with an examination to determine if his obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder is as likely as not related to his active service, and grants service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder.,There is no evidence of obstructive sleep apnea during service. The VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not that the current obstructive sleep apnea is related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative arthritis L5/S1 is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, TDIU, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran also has pending issues regarding sleep apnea and a reduction in his coronary artery disease disability rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, provide an addendum opinion from the July 2014 examiner, and consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines and sleep apnea have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 15, 2013. The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest possible schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining a nexus opinion regarding the claimed residuals of a fractured nose and sleep apnea. The issues are related to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a video hearing closer to his home address in Marion, Illinois.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and potentially obtain additional treatment records. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea will be reviewed again in light of the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of an extraschedular rating and a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his condition began during active duty.