Sleep apnea decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as her range of motion is within normal limits and she does not have ankylosis or other severe symptoms.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's disability rating from 60 percent to 40 percent for his lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis at L5-S1, status post fusion at L5-S1 and laminectomy at L4-L5 was warranted. The criteria for a 50 percent rating have been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's low back disorder, characterized by persistent symptoms compatible with sciatic neuropathy and demonstrable muscle spasm, warrants a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder did not result from disease or injury during active military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, effective June 3, 2004. The veteran's service-connected back disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral muscle strain, with L5-S1 radiculopathy, warrants a rating of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5292.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's claims to reopen for service connection of left shoulder disorder, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for disc disease with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, hypertension secondary to lumbosacral strain, and psychiatric disability secondary to lumbosacral strain. The claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and assigned a 20 percent rating effective December 12, 1990. The veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently manifested by no more than moderate range of motion loss.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted an initial rating of 10 percent effective January 27, 2005.,The veteran's left great toe disorder was granted an initial compensable (10%) rating effective January 27, 2005. The sinusitis issue remains unresolved.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disability, including lumbosacral strain, lumbar scoliosis, extensive degenerative changes in the lumbar spine and osteophyte formation at multiple levels is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's service-connected left femur fracture aggravated his degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and increased rating for lumbosacral disc pathology were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed in this decision.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected conditions were denied.,He was awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective January 19, 1999.