Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his cervical spine condition and anxiety and depression, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran is entitled to at least a 20 percent disability rating for the orthopedic manifestations of her service-connected low back disability, with some limitations due to pain and flare-ups. Further development is needed to determine if she is entitled to an even higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for numbness and tingling in the arms and hands as secondary to degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine was granted, while his claim for sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and moles, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to be related to service, with the Board finding that his symptoms began in service and continued after service.,Service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy is granted as there is a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including joint pain, muscle pain, seizures, skin condition, sleep apnea, hypertension, and loss of balance. The Veteran's claims were based on his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled Board hearing. His claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and service connection for sleep apnea are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including TDIU and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The service connection issue is not about a condition related to exposure or a presumption.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address his claims of secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy is granted. The Board finds that the diagnosis of benign prostatic hypertrophy is part and parcel to the Veteran's currently service-connected prostate disability, warranting service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea, bowel dysfunction, cervical spine disability, thoracic and lumbar degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee disability were not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is granted. Service connection for residuals of head injury (TBI) and disability of the cervical spine are also granted, as well as service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD or due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy claims remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability has been granted, with the assigned rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea, COPD, heart disability, and earlier effective date for service connection for lung cancer.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, joint pain disorder, reaction to an anthrax shot, migraine headaches (secondary to PTSD), chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative changes, and fibromyalgia. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing addendum opinions regarding his hearing loss, sinus condition, and sleep apnea.