Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his military service and is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea, is being remanded due to the need for clarification from the VA examiner regarding whether his sleep apnea is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or hypertension.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea is found to have started during active service and is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a chronic knee disability in service, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection based on continuity of symptomatology. The claim for bilateral knee disability is denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is found to be unrelated to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing and an examination of his low back disability. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea, prostate disability, and erectile dysfunction are also being addressed.

The Veteran's OSA and hypertension were not shown to be related to her active service or service-connected PTSD. The Board found no evidence of a current disability, in-service disease or injury, or link between the conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not present during her period of active duty or for several years thereafter, and the preponderance of evidence fails to establish a relationship between her current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted effective July 27, 2000. The claims for higher ratings for coronary artery disease and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate were denied as there was no increase in severity prior to April 1, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was not granted. His current rating of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is the maximum available under VA's rating schedule.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, with no evidence of onset during active service or within one year post-service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea requires the use of a breathing assistance device such as a continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine, but does not result in chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale and does not require a tracheostomy. The criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder, is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current psychiatric symptoms and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO increased his back disability rating to 20 percent effective October 3, 2011. The Veteran was not granted any other benefits.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including residuals of a lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, was not found to warrant a higher rating prior to October 30, 2013. From that date onward, the disability did not meet criteria for a higher than 20% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the nature and likely etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it was aggravated by or caused by service-connected disabilities. Additionally, his sleep apnea will be evaluated for its onset in service or relation to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, suppurative otitis media, bilateral hearing loss, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for a back condition, leg condition, coccyx and head injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. His acquired psychiatric disability, PTSD, is currently rated at 50%.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to missing treatment records and VA medical records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities, with a current combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral eye disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals on both issues before the Board, and as a result, the cases are dismissed.