Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also found that the current lumbosacral disability was not caused by or a result of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 8, 2005 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is not warranted.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea or pes planus to his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and SSA records. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension, but denied the claim for OSA due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart conditions, including coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The hypertension is also found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or heart conditions.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination is inadequate and further evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including consideration of additional range of motion loss due to pain, flare-ups, incoordination, or weakened movement, is necessary. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent disabling from August 25, 2011. His lumbosacral strain with osteophytosis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service or his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis and diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional relevant evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been medically linked to service, and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for this disability. The low back disability rating remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbosacral strain is on appeal and has been remanded by the Board. The issue remains unresolved as less than the maximum benefit allowed by law was awarded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa. The Board also finds that the current diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa first manifested during service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records from C. Phillips, as well as a new VA examination to address his psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and obtaining relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, effective from May 27, 2009. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain and hypertension have been reopened due to new evidence received since the final denial of these claims in November 1979 and December 1999 respectively.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the lumbosacral spine was not caused by VA treatment and did not result from any fault on the part of VA. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his conditions, exposure basis, and theories of service connection.