Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and is related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, and lymphedema are all found to be secondary to the service-connected obesity.,Service connection is granted for these conditions as they are deemed to have been caused by or aggravated by the service-connected obesity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of her sleep apnea and a readjudication of her sinusitis claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, claimed as COPD, is not service-connected. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his present condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities are related to his in-service helicopter crash, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further consideration of his claims, including those related to service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, an increased rating for chronic gastritis, and other conditions.

The Board finds that the reduction in the rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc disease from 40 percent to 20 percent was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination for the Veteran's PTSD. The appeal will be remanded to allow for this development.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and granted service connection. The Veteran's current lumbosacral strain is related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of his claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea developed as a result of active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, is not related to any incident during active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability, to include service-connected asthma. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected asthma, is denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis is not service-connected as it did not have its clinical onset during service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,The Veteran's heart condition is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service, nor any nexus to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service and the current disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service, nor any nexus to service.,The Veteran's urinary condition is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service and the current disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA and that it is related to his military service. For the low back disorder, the Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service or relation to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy are being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, specifically a motor vehicle accident in 2003. The weight of evidence does not support a finding that the current degenerative arthritis and degenerative disk disease are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 40 percent from April 7, 2012 to May 23, 2014. From May 24, 2014, the rating remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma and obstructive sleep apnea are rated as a single disability due to the regulatory prohibition against separate ratings for these conditions. The current combined rating of 60 percent is appropriate.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected lumbosacral spine fusion with sacroiliac dysfunction. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional medical opinion. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence.