Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various gastrointestinal conditions, including depressive disorder, esophageal reflux and gastritis, nodular lesion of the duodenal bulb nodular mucosa, gastric polyp, helicobacter pylori infection, antral gastritis, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claim of depressive disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was shown to have been present during his active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, which represents the maximum schedular rating available under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The claim for a higher rating has been denied as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a personal hearing due to his failure to appear at the previously scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his obstructive sleep apnea was denied. He is currently assigned a 50 percent disability rating effective February 18, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his period of active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional VA examinations and a Social and Industrial Survey to determine whether the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative disc disease does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as it does not result in specific functional limitations that would warrant an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea effective June 1, 2005. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 30, 2012 is remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the combined effect of all service-connected disabilities on employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during his period of active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded as additional development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic obstructive sleep apnea was incurred in or is otherwise attributable to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran had symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea during service and since separation. The Board found the evidence in equipoise, granting service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO due to scheduling issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining a report of the service retirement examination and scheduling him for sleep and genitourinary examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for further examination regarding his sleep apnea and low blood sugar conditions.

The Veteran does not have a separate and ratable chronic disability of the upper back or right ankle as a result or consequence of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The Board is remanding the issues for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.