Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for liver disorder, gallbladder disorder, kidney lesions and stones, body stress rash release and trauma, polymyalgia rheumatic, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues are pending.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stomach, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and back disorders are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service. The conditions were either diagnosed after service or attributed to other causes such as alcohol use.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's appeal due to scheduling issues for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge, via videoconference. The Veteran was originally scheduled for a hearing on August 13, 2014, but his representative requested rescheduling due to previously scheduled hearings with the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right hand disability were granted initial ratings of 20 percent, while the iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee was found to warrant a non-compensable rating. Lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain was not separately rated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liposarcoma and schwannoma were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The cancers are not presumed due to Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 10 percent rating, and his right lower extremity radiculopathy received a separate 20 percent rating. The current effective date is October 23, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service due to a lack of evidence showing it during or shortly after his military service. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and OSA is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and tinea pedis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the denial of service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, right hand and finger numbness, and left hand and finger numbness. The appeals were also dismissed for increased ratings for PTSD, TBI, headache, right shoulder, right shoulder scar, and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include sleep apnea, respiratory/pulmonary disorders, and residuals of a tonsillectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, lumbosacral spine, left shoulder, peripheral artery disease, and mental disorder conditions are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and reopening of his claim for bilateral knee disorder are being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of outstanding treatment records. The issues include rating his spine disabilities and determining if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, hypertension, headaches, and sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease was evaluated at 20 percent prior to February 10, 2012. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic fatigue syndrome with fibromyalgia is granted, but his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran is seeking recognition of his son, D.W.M., as the 'helpless child' due to multiple health conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully assess this claim.