Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed due to noise exposure during service, while his current respiratory conditions are linked to in-service symptoms of shortness of breath.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hemidiaphragm elevation with restrictive lung disease and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder as residual of anoxic brain injury and occipital neuralgia (headaches) have been rated based on their service-connected status, while his sleep apnea has a separate rating. The lower extremity hyperreflexia does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has ordered additional development due to outstanding records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the April 2015 VA examiner regarding bedrest prescribed for her service-connected HNP with lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to newly submitted VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. The remaining issues of service connection for psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office for consideration of additional VA treatment records and potential readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, TBI residuals, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically TBI with primary insomnia and a deviated nasal septum. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, and COPD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a VA examination and remanded the case for compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic lumbosacral strain was denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, and his symptoms were adequately addressed by the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction and upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing Social Security Administration records and a need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's sleep disorder. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain under review.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, as well as whether his service-connected right hip disorder may have aggravated or caused his current condition. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.