Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disorder, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and stomach disorder (GERD) are not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim for PTSD with major depression was not granted as the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in 2013.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities. The RO denied the claim, attributing the inability to work to both service-connected and nonservice-connected conditions. The Board finds that another VA examination is necessary to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on her ability to work.

The Board has decided the case needs additional medical opinion on whether sleep apnea is related to service and if it's secondary to hypertension. The Veteran also submitted new evidence, so a remand is needed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, and the Board grants service connection for this condition as secondary to the service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical mid-low back strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and his claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea are granted. The claim for a disability manifested by fatigue remains denied.

The Board has reopened the issue of service connection for left wrist fracture residuals and granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is supported by lay statements from family members indicating symptoms during service, as well as VA medical records noting snoring and daytime fatigue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. However, his claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left ring finger fracture disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinea versicolor, obstructive sleep apnea, and a kidney disorder are all granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence linking her current condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea has been aggravated by a service-connected disability, including PTSD. The RO should then readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and myositis are currently rated at 40 percent from July 6, 2006 to October 3, 2011. The rating is granted as the disability more closely approximates a 40 percent disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected post-traumatic headaches and lumbosacral strain have been granted, with the effective dates set at November 8, 2005 and September 13, 2004 respectively.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and ensuring all pertinent medical treatment records are added to the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a travel board hearing. The Board will not make any determination on the merits of his claims until after this hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for nummular eczema, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether it had its onset during active service and has continued since service. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, dorsal osteoarthritis, and maxillary sinusitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation file. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the lumbosacral spine and for bilateral hearing loss were denied by the RO. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is at least as likely as not the result of his military service, and thus grants service connection for a back disorder.