Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, seasonal allergic rhinitis with deviated septum, and sinusitis were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for stress fractures of the left foot and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. Service connection for right foot bunion is not established.

The Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing has been rescheduled due to his inability to attend the previous scheduled hearing. The case is now remanded to the RO for further review and scheduling of the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea and anemia, both secondary to his service-connected hemorrhoids. The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in service, and therefore grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident (stroke) is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to the need for additional evidence and a new opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed and had its onset during military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues are seeking service connection for insomnia and sleep apnea secondary to traumatic brain injury, as well as an initial compensable evaluation for traumatic brain injury.

The Board found that there was no evidence of diabetes mellitus or ischemic heart disease in service, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides. The right knee arthritis is considered secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral leg disability and back disability were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor are they related to her service-connected pes planus.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that his condition is not related to his military service and ruling out exposure to herbicides as a cause. The examiner concluded that eczema and rosacea are not likely related to his time in service.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal and low back disabilities do not render him unemployable for VA purposes, as he is capable of performing sedentary work despite his symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not manifested in service and is not shown to be otherwise related to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression and denied his claim for service connection for depression. The issue of an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with scoliosis and degenerative joint disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis, service connection for high cholesterol, and service connection for a right knee disability were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and duodenal ulcers was denied. The current rating of 20 percent for the back disability is considered adequate, as it reflects the severity of the condition based on range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current sleep disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD or due to an undiagnosed illness, and whether it had its onset during service. The appeal will be returned to the Board after the examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine pain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder strain and lumbosacral strain have been evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings are denied as there is no evidence of additional functional impairment or other factors warranting higher evaluations.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected tooth #9 and his claim for service connection for headaches have been denied. The remaining issues are not addressed as they were remanded.