Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requires further examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and whether he is unemployable due to his disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain with idiopathic scoliosis was denied as her disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA respiratory examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea. The examiner should address whether it was caused or aggravated by service-connected bronchial asthma and/or PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is directly related to his weight gain during and after service, which was at least in part due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including spondylosis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection. However, his right ankle sprain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 17, 2006 to September 12, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and compensation for hemorrhoids are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and for a comprehensive examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone are sufficiently severe to produce unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea.,However, the Board denied service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident with right side weakness as not related to service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the claims of entitlement to initial disability ratings higher than 10 percent for a right elbow disability and a right elbow scar. The case is REMANDED for issuance of a statement of the case on the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is related to his period of active duty, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and related conditions are rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's reported in-service personal assault and stressors, as well as to obtain a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric conditions. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam, and therefore grants service connection for diabetes mellitus and gluteal liposarcoma as secondary to such exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease. However, the claim remains denied as there is no causal relationship between the current condition and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure and granted. Sleep apnea was not present in service or linked to service, thus denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The disabilities are considered to be unrelated to any injury, disease, or event in service.