Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The claims of service connection for depression, a disability manifested by breathing difficulty to include sleep apnea, and residuals of a fractured nose are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be service-connected, with the condition believed to have been caused by an undiagnosed illness during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have onset during her active service, was not caused by her active service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for allergic rhinitis and asthma were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis or a rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea. The rating for hypertension is granted at a 10 percent evaluation, and the ratings for Graves' disease, rhinitis, and hemorrhoids are denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, effective the day following his discharge from service. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain, and left and right carpal tunnel disabilities prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting VA examinations to address the claims of service connection for a skin disorder, respiratory disability, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lung disorder, including asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic obstructive sleep apnea, is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to his military service or exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, increased rating for GERD, and a compensable rating for bilateral foot disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current sleep apnea manifested in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all pending issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for the residuals of a tonsillectomy and sleep apnea due to inadequate reasoning provided by the May 2011 VA examiner, and because these issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not present during active service and is not otherwise related to service, nor is it due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his eligibility for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as correction of notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection, concluding that it was more likely caused by his panic disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was present during his final period of active duty and is not presumed to have existed prior to service. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial evaluations were granted, with a rating of 40 percent assigned for his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine. The other conditions received favorable decisions as well.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain was denied, and the current disability rating of 40 percent remains unchanged. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.