Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied all of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination. The issues are related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) is granted as the evidence supports a finding of service connection.,The status of service connection for sleep disorder (sleep apnea) is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart disease disability and assigned a 100 percent rating effective May 7, 2013. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension are not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's rhinitis was caused or aggravated by in-service herbicide exposure. The sleep apnea claim is also deferred pending resolution of the rhinitis claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's OSA was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the increased disability rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service connected, as there is no medical evidence showing a direct link to his military service. The Board also determined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his service-connected nasal disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not initially manifested during service or related to his service-connected PTSD. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's skin disability is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left knee disability has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings for hepatitis C, sinusitis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowance for back brace and left knee brace in 2014 and 2015 were denied as the braces are not of a type that tends to wear or tear clothing, and thus do not qualify for a clothing allowance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its clinical onset during service and continues to persist, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed back and foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional information, including whether the Veteran's symptoms related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain can be distinguished from those of his degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not present in service and is unrelated to his service-connected disabilities, including as due to medications. Therefore, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea cannot be established.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current sleep apnea or cervical spine disability to his service, and determined that any current disabilities are not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability. As a result, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and an evaluation of whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.