Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a spine disability, right foot hallux valgus, bilateral breast reduction, or chronic headaches. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis and it is less likely than not caused by service. Service connection for sleep apnea, left knee, and right knee disabilities cannot be established due to lack of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence supports these claims. The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms are related to his military service, and his sleep disorder is linked to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for asthma with obstructive sleep apnea and a lumbar muscle strain, as well as his claim for service connection for a right knee disability, have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new medical opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD permanently aggravated his nonservice-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating for severe lumbosacral strain with limited motion. The claim for a higher initial rating was denied.

The claims of service connection for major depressive disorder, residuals of a nasal fracture with a deviated septum, and a disability manifested by breathing difficulty to include sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance for his spouse was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as his degenerative arthritis of the left ankle. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing. Service connection will be determined based on the merits of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected discogenic disease of the lumbosacral junction, chondromalacia patella, left knee, with degenerative changes, and chondromalacia of the right knee are not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The Veteran's hypertension is also not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, which he claims is related to a nasal fracture sustained during service. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for an addendum opinion from a qualified VA physician regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected rosacea and acne have been rated at 10 percent since February 2009, considering the current disability level of less than 20% of exposed areas affected.

The Board denied service connection for CAD, sleep apnea, and COPD as not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's conditions were found to be not related to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show a worsening of his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5237, reflecting significant forward flexion but limited range of motion. Separate ratings for neurological impairment of the right and left lower extremities are granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with x-ray evidence of spondylolysis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and review new evidence submitted by the Veteran.