Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are related to his military service, with the right knee disability being secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The sleep apnea is also considered secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it had its onset during active service and is related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical records. The Board will consider whether any diagnosed conditions are related to his military service or undiagnosed illnesses from his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral/thoracic strain are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA will provide new examinations and consider all evidence, including lay testimony.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in previous examinations regarding his gout, sleep apnea, and heel spur conditions.

The Veteran asserts that he has obstructive sleep apnea of service onset for which service connection should be granted. The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) due to a need for another VA examination by a specialist in sleep medicine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to 2007 and a new examination to determine the presence of neurological disorders of the lower extremities. The Veteran also needs a new VA examination to assess the current level of impairment due to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia (as a symptom of his service-connected PTSD), was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has remanded to determine if higher ratings are warranted for his associated femoral radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Paget's disease and increased rating claim for lumbosacral spine disability were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or an increase in disability ratings.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and left shoulder condition are both granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted a temporary total evaluation for his left shoulder due to convalescence following surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, and secondary service connection for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his conditions warrant any rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues currently before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for updated evidence regarding his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and herniated nucleus pulposus, as well as its associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is unrelated to service.,For the period prior to April 3, 2012, the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent. For the period from April 3, 2012, the Veteran's cervical spine disability meets criteria for a 30 percent evaluation.,For the period prior to April 3, 2012, the Veteran's right arm radicular symptoms did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent. For the period from April 3, 2012, the Veteran's right arm radicular symptoms meet criteria for a 50 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's liposarcoma of the right spermatic cord is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service. His hypertension, prostate disorder, renal cancer, and respiratory disorder are not presumptively associated with such exposure.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment from December 1, 2008 to December 8, 2010, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's actinic keratosis is related to his exposure to ionizing radiation during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The other skin disorders are not found to be related to service or ionizing radiation exposure.