Sleep apnea decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for TDIU. The left flank scar is rated at 10 percent due to painful symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's post traumatic lumbosacral degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 10, 2009. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee and back conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity sciatica are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing retinitis pigmentosa and keratoconus did not become permanently aggravated by service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee disability due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative disc disease was rated at 10 percent prior to February 4, 2010 and denied a higher rating. As of February 4, 2010, the disability was rated as 20 percent but still denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for rosacea has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the appeal as there are no specific errors of fact or law to review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and sleep apnea are related to his service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, and the Board grants this claim. The diffuse vascular disease is not separate from his service-connected coronary artery disease, so he cannot get a separate rating for it.

The Veteran's chloracne has been granted service connection, and the issue of service connection for a skin disability other than scalp folliculitis and chloracne is remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and rhinitis. Service connection was denied for a right knee disorder and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a VA compensation examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active duty service. The hypertension claim remains pending as there are outstanding National Guard treatment records and a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA medical records from February 2012 to the present.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for prostate disability has been withdrawn. The Board denied the extension of a temporary total rating for convalescence following lumbar spine surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during active service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis of the fingers and toes, acid reflux disorder, hypertension, and asthma are all granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain, and as a result, the other diagnoses of spondylolosis, spondylolisthesis, disc space narrowing, and degenerative disc disease (DDD) are also considered to be related to service.