Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and for issuance of a statement of the case regarding his claims of service connection for sleep apnea, frostbite injury of the right toe, right shoulder injury, and heart murmur.

The Veteran seeks service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current chronic lower back pain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, TBI, low back disorder, and residuals of a right hand fracture have been granted. The claim for an eye disorder was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, and the claim for a higher rating of his left ankle strain is remanded for further development. The remaining claims are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective May 4, 2008.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the feet, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and flat feet were denied. The claim for an increased rating for athlete's foot was also denied.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with history of esophagitis and hematemesis, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, including claimed chronic fatigue syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as his claim for tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic thoracic spine disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing injury to his T12 vertebra was aggravated by active duty. The claim for lumbosacral spine disability is denied as it did not have its onset during active military service and is not secondary to a service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and procedural issues.

The Veteran's left ankle talocalcaneal coalition and lumbosacral strain were evaluated, but the claims for higher ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claim of entitlement to service connection for dementia remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right shoulder disorder, sleep apnea, and cold injury residuals. The VA will attempt to obtain all relevant treatment records and schedule appropriate medical evaluations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the earliest date of receipt of a claim is February 20, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine remains October 10, 2009.

The Board has received notification from the Veteran, through his authorized representative, that he withdraws his claims for service connection of a right elbow disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.,VA does not have any current evidence to support or deny the claim for residuals of a fractured left collarbone. The preponderance of the evidence indicates that there is no current disability related to this in-service injury.