Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and MDD) were denied as there was no evidence to support service connection. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition in service or during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service from September 2007 to September 2008. The examiner opined that the condition is less likely than not related to any incident of his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any further development as required.

The Veteran's appeals of the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes, and the claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae have been dismissed. The appeal of the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is also dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his period of service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for type II diabetes mellitus remains pending as a VA examination was not conducted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is denied because there is no evidence that the condition was caused by or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the diagnosis and relationship of his condition to service. Additional development, including a VA examination, is needed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is found to be related to his service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether his service-connected disabilities aggravate it. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbosacral strain, is considered to have started during his service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition on the basis of direct incurrence in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any sleep apnea. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reviewed after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA sleep apnea examination to determine the nature and etiology of his OSA and its relationship to active service and his PTSD and other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been granted. The claims for hypertension, GERD, and renal insufficiency remain pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, either as a result of her active duty service or as secondary to her service-connected hypertension. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA medical records and possibly additional opinions.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating greater than 40 percent for joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that throughout the entire rating period, the disability had not resulted in ankylosis or physician-prescribed bed rest.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and chronic headaches did not begin in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits has been denied as he does not meet the criteria of being permanently and totally disabled from non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, left hip, and right knee disabilities are proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded for additional development.