Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the claims for carotid body tumor, itchy bumps on scalp and fatty oily skin bump/acne under the eye, bowel constipation, extreme coughing until nauseous, sleep apnea, problems with teeth, numbness in arms and shoulders while sleeping, and enlarged prostate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its clinical onset during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder does not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to impairment resulting from his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of this determination.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability and sleep apnea. There are no in-service complaints, treatments, or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran seeks service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends is related to his service-connected hypertension. The Board finds the VA examination inadequate and requires an addendum or a new examination to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms in service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to have initially manifested during his period of service, and the Board finds that it is related to service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA compensation criteria, and the Veteran has not presented credible lay assertions establishing continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to have initially manifested during service and is therefore considered incurred in service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current sleep apnea, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibrosarcoma of the left thigh, Grave's disease, residuals of a subcutaneous nodule excision on the left upper abdominal wall, and skin cancer of the arms and legs. The appeals are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and associated left lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the criteria for staged ratings.

The Veteran is currently service connected for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, rated as 60 percent disabling. The evidence shows that the Veteran's disability makes it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral painful heels with degenerative changes, as well as his claims for increased evaluations for left and right painful heels. The case is also remanded to obtain a discharge physical from the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or National Archives Records Administration (NARA).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a TDIU claim.