Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection. The appeals for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and sleep apnea were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to his military service, given the in-service diagnosis of reactive airways disease and lay statements indicating sleep problems during active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a low back disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral shoulder disability, leg cramps, and lumbar degenerative spondylosis. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his second period of active service and is granted service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain Social Security Administration records and other issues.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent prior to March 12, 2015, and the Board found no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. After March 12, 2015, his condition warranted a rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent prior to September 14, 2013 and increased to 20 percent since that date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with hammertoe deformities and heel spurs, finding that the Veteran's foot disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to have its onset during active service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of Bell's palsy is granted. The Board finds ample evidence to support the onset and ongoing residuals of Bell's palsy in service, with very little evidence suggesting otherwise.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and complete the record. The primary issues are whether his obstructive sleep apnea is related to his Gulf War service or secondary to his COPD, and if he has a neurological disorder that relates to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is service-connected as it resulted from an injury during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection.,The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that can be attributed to his period of active military service.,There is no evidence showing chronic ingrown toenails were incurred during service.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and cellulitis are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.,The Veteran's asthma has been evaluated at 60 percent since January 2003, but a reduction to 30 percent was implemented due to material improvement not being demonstrated by a preponderance of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining TRICARE records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his fibromyalgia and sleep apnea/asthma disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran timely filed a substantive appeal for his claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD with night sweats, stress, helplessness, problems concentrating, depression and fatigue; headaches to include as secondary to PTSD; and sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD. As such, these claims are now ready for further adjudication.