Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The increased rating claims for PTSD and laryngospasms remain pending.,The Veteran has raised concerns about the severity of his PTSD, including continuous panic attacks and depression affecting his ability to function independently and effectively.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks in the past twelve months.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea likely had its onset during his period of service and is related to his active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within the presumptive period. The Board also found that any current diagnoses were not related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not manifest during service and is not related to his service or his service-connected disabilities, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to provide a VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the reduction of the 60 percent rating to a 30 percent rating for service-connected tinea versicolor was proper based on improvement in the disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his in-service leg cramps and current sleep apnea and any related conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea were granted service connection. The appeals for increased ratings for hypertensive kidney disease with hypertension, rated 60 percent disabling prior to December 2, 2011, and 80 percent disabling from December 2, 2011, have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 10 percent, effective March 22, 2007. The current rating does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain was denied by the Board, with a 10 percent rating continuing in effect.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obesity and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service and are not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was evaluated at a 20 percent rating prior to July 23, 2010. The claim for an increased evaluation is granted.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 10 percent for depressive disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea is set at July 11, 2011.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected condition to the Veteran's death. The immediate cause of death was listed as bilateral pneumonia-mixed bacterial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine disorders are not related to his active service. The in-service motor vehicle accident did result in injuries but these were treated and resolved without chronic symptoms persisting post-service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and Sleep Apnea, finding that the conditions did not begin during service or until many years after service, are not presumed to be related to in-service herbicide exposure, and were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes.

The Veteran's disabilities of the cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, stomach, and left shoulder were not proximately due to or the result of VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing reasonable care.