Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent disabling from May 27, 2011. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects her disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a video conference Board hearing. The issues include reopening of his sleep apnea claim, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The case is REMANDED for a new VA medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran must be provided an opportunity to respond.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's sleep apnea had its clinical onset during his period of active service, and grants service connection for sleep apnea on a direct basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain, urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence, radiculopathy, sciatic and femoral nerves of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy, sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is considered to have had its onset during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral pes planus. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions were incurred during active service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was noted by the Veteran's former spouse who reported hearing him stop breathing while asleep during his time in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The issues of asthma and ulcerative colitis are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and service connection for sleep apnea are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current severity, with some issues receiving higher ratings than others. The overall disposition is denied for all claims.

The Board has granted the reopening of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, including as secondary to a service-connected left hip disability. The issue of service connection for a right hip disorder was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and finds that it is etiologically related to his military service, granting the claim.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted a 10 percent disability rating effective April 20, 2010. The rating for this condition has been increased to 40 percent from August 15, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including Gulf War Syndrome, depression, neuropathy, radiculopathy, and various other symptoms. The issues are related to service connection for these conditions, with some seeking reopening of a previously denied claim for migraine headaches.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea. The Board has determined that a medical examination is needed to determine if his current sleep apnea is related to his military service, specifically his inservice complaints of snoring.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 23, 2010. The rating is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to that date.,The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 23, 2010. The rating is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to that date.,The Veteran's service-connected L4-5 radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent. The rating is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 40 percent prior to November 4, 2005 and increased to 50 percent since that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis was granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit. The claims for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with lumbar fracture and for service connection for a right rib disability are still pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not found to be directly related to service or a service-connected disability, and the Board determined that it is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.