Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea, atopic dermatitis, TMJ disorder, a bilateral foot disorder, and conjunctivitis. The denial is based on new and material evidence not having been received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain resulted in a 20 percent rating, and his radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent. The claims for higher ratings were granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed sleep apnea, skin disorder (neurodermatitis), and low back disorder are related to his period of service.,However, the evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, and migraine headaches have been granted. He is now rated at the highest possible rating (100%) for his PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred in active duty and is not proximately due to, nor is it the result of his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, malaria residuals, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of his left knee disability and service connection for a back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and other issues were denied. The decision does not address the specific conditions or theories of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his deployment to Iraq and are more likely than not related to his military service. The right knee meniscal tear claim is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made. The hearing loss disability claim is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need to address whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous decision denying service connection.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as it was not incurred in or related to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, respiratory disability, and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran an appropriate VA examination to assess his educational and vocational skills in relation to his ability to perform sedentary employment and/or light duty work.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury, right hip disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep apnea, CAD, and aneurysm to the brain and aorta. The decision is final.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left Achilles tendon injury, low testosterone, astigmatism, and sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The VA physician provided an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his pseudofolliculitis barbae with recurring keloids.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 20 percent effective July 1, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VHA examiner to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service or caused by his weight gain during service.