Sleep apnea Board decisions

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 12, 2012. The Veteran also received a grant of service connection for sleep apnea and the effective date for this is set at May 19, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and clarification of certain aspects of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and any current skin disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension and sleep apnea are not related to military service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and degenerative joint disease of the right hip were determined to have been incurred during his periods of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are not related to his period of service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service, including his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, hearing disability, and other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of nexus between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted. He is now rated at 70 percent for PTSD with depression and anxiety from August 31, 2010 to September 30, 2012.,Prior to August 31, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD with depression and anxiety was rated at 30 percent. From August 31, 2010 to September 30, 2012, he is rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied because the evidence did not show that her service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain required a back brace which tended to wear or tear her clothing. The designee of the Chief Medical Director found no such need.

The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are likely traceable to his period of active military duty, while the status of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and muscle pain remains unknown.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and acid reflux are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining statements from individuals who observed his symptoms during or following service and providing him with VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and anxiety, has been denied. The Board found no evidence linking the sleep apnea to active service or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's acne rosacea is found to be related to his active military service. The Veteran's polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to presumed in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability was denied, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted. The cervical spine disability claim was also denied as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical treatment was for a service-connected condition, but VA facilities were reasonably available and thus payment or reimbursement is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 1, 2009. TDIU was granted effective from May 18, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea preexisted service and were not aggravated by military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, blindness in the right eye, migraine headaches, temporomandibular dysfunction, epiphora, and paralysis of the face.