Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for cognitive disorder, depression and anxiety, cerebrovascular accident with right hand tremor, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, including consideration of chemical exposure during service. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea, rapid eye movement disorder, and periodic limb movement disorder are not related to any period of active duty or inactive duty training. The VA examiner opined that these conditions were first diagnosed after service and did not have their onset during periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.,The Board finds no evidence in the record supporting a direct relationship between the Veteran's current sleep apnea, rapid eye movement disorder, and periodic limb movement disorder and his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service or service-connected disability, and whether it was caused by or aggravated by his posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's MFS is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, prostate cancer, and cardiomyopathy are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the December 2012 VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) on all issues raised in his notice of disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a spine disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), or obstructive sleep apnea that is related to his active service.,VA examinations and medical opinions indicate no link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and verification of periods of active duty training. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome will be referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his current obstructive sleep apnea.

The VA determined that the Veteran's alcoholism, which led to his death from end-stage liver disease, was not caused by or related to his service-connected low back disability. The medical opinions were divided on this issue.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted as his chronic sleep problems, including snoring and disrupted breathing, are found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rosacea does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation guidelines. The condition involves less than 5% of her exposed body and total body, and she has not required systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to October 5, 2011 and at 70% from that date onwards. He was granted a TDIU effective August 1, 2012.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea is etiologically related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves issues related to the reduction of his hypertension rating, a debt resulting from marital status changes, and claims for various conditions. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The VA examiner will be asked to determine if the Veteran's symptoms of excessive daytime drowsiness and episodes of falling asleep during active duty are related to his current diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The case is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2013 VA examination, which did not address the Veteran's current symptoms or functional limitations. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine the severity of his lumbar spine disability and its impact on work.

The Veteran's kidney stone disability, which requires ongoing drug therapy for recurrent stones, is currently rated at 30 percent. The other issues on appeal are not addressed as the decision pertains to service connection and rating of kidney stones.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be aggravated by his service-connected chronic sinusitis, and thus granted secondary service connection. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are related to her military service, while her heart murmur, asthma, and CTS do not have a direct link. The reduction in rating for pes planus was upheld.