Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and is not otherwise related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents. As such, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's discharge from his period of service from August 1981 to September 1983 was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which bars benefits based on this period of service. The claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of active duty, obtain additional medical records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is related to service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability. The right knee and left knee conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, which he claims developed during his deployment to Iraq. The VA examiner found no evidence of sleep problems in service and denied the claim based on lack of medical treatment for sleep issues. The Board finds this opinion inadequate and remands the case for another examination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain was evaluated at a 10 percent rating. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees, combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that he wishes to withdraw his appeals for hearing loss disability and tinnitus. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. The AOJ will review the claims and conduct any necessary examinations before readjudicating them.

The Veteran's service-connected Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome with Central Sleep Apnea is currently rated at 100 percent effective April 22, 2013.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, which was diagnosed shortly after service. The Veteran argues that in-service sleep disturbances may be related to his current diagnosis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for chondromalacia of the left knee, a compensable evaluation for old trauma distal of the left clavicle of the left shoulder, a compensable evaluation for C6-7 radiculopathy on the left, a compensable evaluation for C6/7 radiculopathy on the right, a compensable evaluation for osteoarthritic changes of lumbosacral spine, and a compensable evaluation for pes planus deformity and posterior calcaneal spur.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records from OPM and SSA, as well as for further development of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was diagnosed during service and is considered to have started then, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding his anemia and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral myositis and associated radiculopathy are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, with no additional ratings for separate disabilities or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.