Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, right shoulder, bilateral elbow, and bilateral knee conditions were not related to service or manifest within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection was denied for all issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea are related to his military service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be further adjudicated after the completion of the requested actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service or permanently aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service-connected residuals of a nasal fracture.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus in service or within one year following discharge, and there is no competent evidence linking the current condition to service. For sleep apnea, while a VA examiner opined that it was not related to asthma, they did not provide an opinion on whether it began during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for depression. The issue of secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is pending and will be addressed in a future examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea are being remanded for additional development to determine their etiology, including whether they are related to service-connected disabilities or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is exacerbated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected.,The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for right knee PFS, to include as secondary to left knee PFS; entitlement to service connection for OSA, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities; and seeking a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine DDD are being REMANDED.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and shortness of breath (previously claimed as trouble breathing) have been granted, with effective dates set at the date of receipt of the application to reopen the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining treatment records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating greater than 40 percent for lumbosacral strain is being returned to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office for additional consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is about a higher rating for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, specifically regarding neurological manifestations and whether he should receive a separate rating based on incapacitating episodes. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inaccurate histories used in previous opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims for respiratory disability, hypertension, and bilateral knee disabilities are being reviewed with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with mild to minimal broad-based disc bulge at L4-5 and L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for proper development of the record, including providing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) considering all evidence since February 2009.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and right knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a service connection. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and pulmonary effusions has been granted. The Board finds that the current disability is related to active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic otitis media, adult fibrosarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma, residuals of a left wrist injury, and asthma. The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing SSDI records.