Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during service, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea. The thoracolumbar spine disability issue remains pending.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and dry mouth. The Veteran was assigned a noncompensable disability rating (10%) for each condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus are service-connected. The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes in his left ear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted with a rating of 50% effective July 8, 2005. The Board found that the earliest date legally possible for the grant of service connection is July 18, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a sleep study from West Valley Medical Center.

The Board found that the Veteran's current breathing problems, to include emphysema, did not manifest during service and are unrelated to service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the need to obtain treatment records from Carthage Area Hospital.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain did not meet the schedular criteria and there were no other disabilities that would allow him to qualify for an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbosacral spine disorders, each assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective July 26, 2004. The right ankle claim remains on hold as it is not part of the current appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset in service, is not otherwise related to service, and is not shown to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis or lithium treatments for his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability (with diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are not service-connected.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The initial schedular rating for PTSD prior to October 5, 2011 was granted at 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 16, 2008 for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea. The decision states that no earlier claims were submitted and that the one-year period following separation from service has not been met.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his respiratory disorders, including sleep apnea, asthma, bronchitis and COPD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. His TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with his increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are related to his service-connected disabilities or due to medications.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, right and left knee disorders, hip pain, and ankle disabilities have been granted. Separate ratings of 10 percent each are assigned for the right and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The criteria for service connection are met for all four conditions.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to September 8, 2014. His sleep apnea is considered secondary to his service-connected asthma and has been granted.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was rated at 30 percent prior to October 9, 2009 and upgraded to 100 percent thereafter.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, as these conditions are claimed as secondary to his service-connected heart disability.