Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claimed conditions or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for her service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine disability, and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, disc disease, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 20 percent. The right middle finger disability is also rated at its maximum allowable rating for ankylosis or limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, lumbar spine, and right knee. The issues of service connection for a left knee disorder, right hip disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, or any link to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection. The appeals for basic eligibility for specially adaptive housing and special home adaptation grant were also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus, rosacea, and malignant melanoma are all found to be related to service. The skin disability is presumed due to herbicide exposure in the Gulf War era.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with slight degenerative disc disease is not rated higher than the assigned initial ratings of 10 percent prior to September 17, 2013, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension with a 10 percent disability rating and an effective date of February 6, 2009. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates is addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a link between the condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.,For the period prior to April 23, 2014, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The current disability does not result in severe impairment.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim for increased rating of lumbar spine disability was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current condition had its onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as he does not have penile deformity.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of erectile dysfunction was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's insomnia is considered part of his service-connected psychiatric disability, and thus no separate claim for this condition was granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea has been established as it is at least as likely as not aggravated by a pre-existing service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The RO will also consider whether he has submitted a completed VA Form 21-8940 and address any related issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to his service, including symptoms he reported during and after service. As a result, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran is competent to manage his own funds without limitation and the appeal for incompetency is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, spondylosis, degenerative disc disease and moderate anterior T12 wedging is not rated higher than 40 percent prior to October 6, 2014. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent from July 21, 2015 onwards. The Veteran's right knee strain and left knee strain remain rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period. Residuals of right great toe and foot injury do not warrant a compensable rating prior to October 6, 2014.