Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition, as well as further development of the record.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, residuals of a deviated nasal septum (withdrawn), left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board is also remanding the claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and sleep apnea, with the latter being secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and stomach disorder were not incurred or aggravated during her military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not shown to have first manifested in service, and it is not causally or etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including the adjudication of service connection claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a cardiac condition, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and sleep apnea. The RO will also provide the Veteran with VA examinations and opinions in connection with his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and low back disability. The Veteran's hiatal hernia is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and a new examination to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea disability and the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was first manifested during active duty, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for a right knee condition, sleep apnea, a low back condition, a bilateral eye condition, hypertension, and sinusitis/allergies have been granted. The remaining claim of service connection for a left knee condition is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fever outbreak, sleep apnea, sero-negative polyarthritis, and traumatic brain injury, were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The Board denied these claims as the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for sleep apnea, as there is no credible evidence linking the condition to active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is related to his service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was consistently manifested by Level I hearing loss in both ears, and his lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. As such, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted, and a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease remains unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected nasal condition. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and coronary artery disease have been granted. An effective date of November 24, 2008 has also been established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his sleep apnea and service-connected PTSD. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea, a higher rating for PTSD, and earlier effective date for TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has been granted a rating of at least 70 percent, effective January 10, 2013. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was evaluated at 10 percent prior to April 3, 2015. As of April 3, 2015, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent evaluation for his lumbosacral strain.