Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and Parkinson's disease were not found to warrant a higher initial rating, with the current 20% rating for the lumbar spine condition remaining unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional development of his left knee disability, sleep apnea, and stroke claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore, he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea with fatigue is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his medical records.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and remanded it for further development. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including medical records from various healthcare providers, and undergo a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, as there was no evidence linking the heart conditions and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional evidence, including Social Security Administration records and a new VA examination addressing all theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected conditions, including major depression, failed neck syndrome with degenerative joint disease and right C-5 radiculopathy, acromioclavicular sprain of the right shoulder with Mumford procedures, right knee chondromalacia and left knee chondromalacia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's sleep disorder and his service or any service-connected condition, including his deviated nasal septum. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective from September 1, 2010. Additionally, a separate rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve is warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a disease or injury related to erectile dysfunction or sleep disorders during service, and there is no evidence of such conditions until decades after service separation. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen her claim of service connection for depression and found that she did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation for urticarial pigmentosa. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent evaluation for urticarial pigmentosa as of April 2, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to May 19, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the last final denial in 2006. The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 10 percent disabling from October 12, 2004, and higher ratings are not warranted based on current symptoms. Ratings of 10 percent are assigned for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities since February 7, 2011, and effective May 14, 2012, respectively. The low back disability is rated as noncompensable from September 15, 2006, but higher ratings are not warranted based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and the Veteran's other eye disorders and sinus disorder are also now considered service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine DDD was not manifested by unfavorable spinal ankylosis or incapacitating episodes prior to August 15, 2014. Since then, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and sleep apnea cannot be earlier than May 11, 2010, as there was no prior claim within one year after separation from service. The appellant's claims were received on May 11, 2010.