Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected rhinosinusitis is at least as likely as not a contributing factor to his obstructive sleep apnea, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded his claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and dorsal spine compression fractures. The case is now being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination. The case will be re-adjudicated after the development.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea and memory loss are not related to service, with the weight of evidence favoring a diagnosis of known disorders rather than an undiagnosed illness. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea on the basis of aggravation by a service-connected disability (sinusitis). The Veteran's sleep apnea is not considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right L5 radiculopathy and L4-L5 herniated disc with lumbosacral paravertebral myositis have been manifested by significant loss of motion but no ankylosis, either favorable or unfavorable. There is no evidence of incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was directly related to the Veteran's active duty service without relying on any presumption or secondary condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination, as well as clarification of his work absences.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of nasal septoplasty are an etiological factor in his development of OSA, and therefore grants service connection for OSA as secondary to service-connected residuals of nasal septoplasty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed sleep apnea did not have an onset during his period of service and is not otherwise related to his period of service. The initial compensable evaluation for residuals of left clavicle injury prior to February 18, 2010 was denied, while a 10 percent evaluation beginning as of that date was granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected lower back disability and its residuals render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher rating of chronic lumbosacral strain and service connection for bilateral hip and leg conditions were denied. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a clarifying medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a comprehensive examination of his lumbar and cervical spine conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected due to his diabetes mellitus, type II. He was granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 11, 2010 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's muscle tension headaches have been granted a 30 percent rating, effective December 16, 2009. The other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and he has separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to his service-connected back disability. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or IVDS criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have confirmed exposure to herbicides in service, and there is no evidence linking any of his claimed conditions to military service or to any incident therein. As such, service connection for all claims is denied.