Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is causally related to his military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as the December 1968 rating decision denying service connection due to pre-existing cardiomegaly was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was incurred during active service and is granted as service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent prior to April 22, 2013, and at 20 percent thereafter. The VA determined that the condition warranted a higher rating based on more severe limitation of motion.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends was caused or aggravated by his service-connected Bell's palsy. The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded due to the need for an adequate medical examination and expert opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his mood disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left sided leg weakness, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to perform activities of daily living without regular aid and attendance from another person. His need for such assistance is due to his severe lower extremity weakness caused by his service-connected degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that additional actions are required to address the Veteran's claims, including clarifying whether a psychiatric disorder claim is resolved and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's sleep apnea disability is rated at 50 percent effective March 16, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 3, 2011. The rating has been granted for the orthopedic manifestations of the condition and separate ratings have been assigned for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a comprehensive VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct VA examinations for his right hip and sleep apnea claims, and determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and the Board finds that his symptoms during military service were more likely due to stress or other causes than to sleep apnea. The Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's pending claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and TDIU will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea and deep vein thrombosis, all secondary to his service-connected TBI. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including a request for a rating adjustment for lumbosacral strain and the reopening of her claim for bilateral hearing loss disability. She also seeks service connection for various conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, alopecia, folliculitis, and tinea pedis. The case is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea was incurred during his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected asthma may have caused her sleep apnea due to weight gain from prednisone use, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and left hip strain, finding that the current disabilities are likely due to service-connected bilateral foot disorder.