Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep apnea and respiratory disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining lay statements from his wife and daughter, and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current disabilities and obtaining treatment records from the Navy Hospital at Mucosa.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was not productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, or a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees. The Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 5, 2013 and on or after December 5, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The remaining claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic kidney disease are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Fuchs' dystrophy and cataracts, sleep apnea, hypertension, migraines with hyperventilation and blackouts, psychiatric disorder (depression with anxiety symptoms), and keratoconus have been denied. The maximum rating of 30 percent has been assigned for migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected damage to cranial nerves V, VII, and X associated with residual scar, status post adenocystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland with ptosis is found to be the proximate cause of his obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease has been granted a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II. The remand is necessary due to insufficient opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective June 18, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of any current sleep apnea. The Veteran's lay assertions of having had problems sleeping during service are also considered.

The Veteran's asthma with COPD is rated at 100 percent effective February 11, 2013. Sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected asthma and COPD. Erectile dysfunction is not found to be related to or aggravated by the service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral breast tumors, and thyroid tumor. The claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened due to new evidence, but the other claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and updated treatment records. The issues of service connection for a sleep disorder and skin disorder of the hands and scalp are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea is not etiologically related to his active service, including a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep disorder, to include OSA, is not etiologically related to his active service and does not have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD or diabetes.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his back disability was granted, with a 40% disability rating effective September 23, 2010. The issue of TDIU prior to this date remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, Lumbosacral Strain, Sinusitis, Allergic Rhinitis, and Bilateral Pes Planus. Additionally, the Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for Sleep Apnea secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with alcohol dependence, lumbosacral sprain, cervical sprain with degenerative changes, and neuropathic symptoms of the right lower extremity. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been manifested by symptoms of painful motion, stiffness, forward flexion to 20 degrees, and incapacitating episodes with a total duration of at least six weeks per a 12 month period. For the entire increased rating period from November 24, 2008, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated as 60 percent disabling.