Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss in service or continuity of symptomatology after service, and thus could not establish service connection based on direct service connection. For sleep apnea, the appeal is pending and remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is permanently increased in severity as a consequence of his service-connected PTSD, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, initial rating for asthma, and TDIU were denied. His sinusitis with nasal septum defect claim resulted in a 30% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disabilities were not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability during or related to his military service and that it is less likely than not caused by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's disability picture prior to May 11, 2010 was of the same severity as his disability picture during the period from May 11, 2010. The Board found that a 40 percent rating is warranted for both periods.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded to the AOJ for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 18, 2008, for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain is denied. The RO has already assigned the earliest possible effective date provided by law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his pes planus and lumbosacral strain service connection claims, as well as his claim for heart disease. The left shoulder disability claim was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for restricted airway disease, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Veteran has effectively lost the use of both lower extremities due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, which precludes him from using his legs without assistance. As a result, he is eligible for specially adapted housing but not for a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's combined initial rating for service-connected disabilities was granted effective from September 20, 2001 and increased to a combined 100 percent rating effective from October 10, 2007. The appeal is denied as the claimant has not provided evidence of unemployability due solely to service-connected disabilities prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and a low back disability was denied as there is no evidence of hearing impairment or a low back disorder during service, and the current disorders are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and clarifying the nature of his 'work study' program with VA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected thoracolumbosacral strain and cervical spine strain due to failure to comply with a previous remand directive.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral radiculopathy was denied, and the assignment of an effective date prior to December 16, 2003 for TDIU was also denied. The case is pending further review by the Compensation Director.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation file.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the service-connected left sciatic neuritis from July 23, 2009 to October 22, 2011. The Veteran's symptoms have been characterized by radiating pain and weakness in his left leg.