Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will provide further action at a more convenient location for the Veteran.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current sleep apnea had its onset during his military service or is related to his active duty. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee injury, low back disability (claimed as secondary to a left knee injury), right shoulder disability (claimed as right shoulder bursitis), and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide notice of a scheduled Board hearing. The issues are about service connection for neck and lumbosacral spondylosis, with an initial rating issue.

The Board found no claim for service connection prior to February 23, 2005 and thus denied the earlier effective date claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and an eye disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his service-connected deviated septum and allergic rhinitis. The Board also found that there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or a chronic lung disorder (including chronic bronchitis and COPD).

The Board is remanding the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum and/or maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and sinus headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an earlier effective date for service connection for nerve damage of the left upper extremity, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the condition is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis is found to aggravate his post-service obesity/weight problems, which in turn aggravates his sleep apnea. Therefore, the Board grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's tinea pedis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. The issues of hypertension and epistaxis are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea has been sufficiently severe to require the use of a breathing device, but not resulting in chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale. The Veteran is currently rated at 50% for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA medical examination, and readjudicating the issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected maxillary sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his military service or service-connected conditions.