Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20% prior to December 13, 2017 and at 40% thereafter. A separate 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from December 13, 2017 and a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from October 10, 2012 are granted. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional opinions regarding his low back condition, left shoulder injury, neck condition, and dizziness or balance issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease involving L4-L5.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service or if it is aggravated by his service-connected depression. The Veteran needs a VA examination to provide this information.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability on an extraschedular basis, finding that the available schedular ratings adequately described her disability picture.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected narcolepsy. The issue of reopening the claim for service connection for hypertension, which was previously denied in 2011 and remanded here, is also allowed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected respiratory disorders and PTSD, and thus remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to obtain his service treatment records from Afghanistan and provide him with a VA examination regarding his claimed disabilities, including back pain, shortness of breath, fatigue/sleep disorder, chest pain, hypertension, heartburn, low testosterone, skin rashes, migraines/nausea/vertigo, and memory loss. The examiner must consider the Veteran's exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected mitral valve replacement with residual scar, and an additional VA examination is needed to determine if separate compensable ratings for residuals such as neuralgia of the cranial nerve are warranted. The initial rating for mitral valve replacement with residual scar also requires further evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder disabilities, right and left hip disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, DDD of the cervical spine with spasms, and DDD of the lumbosacral spine due to a lack of detailed range of motion findings and functional loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and his increased evaluation for somatic symptoms disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of left hallux valgus, right foot scar, and left foot scar were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disorder was denied because there is no evidence of an additional chronic disability to the right leg other than those already attributed to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his predominant disability is asthma. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to chronic respiratory failure or tracheotomy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent effective March 14, 2018. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted prior to this date.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection decisions are made as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his claimed conditions and their relationship to service, particularly regarding exposure to anthrax shots.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder. The Veteran did not provide evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries or diseases that would support these claims.,There is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service.