Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected, and he is granted a compensable rating of 20 percent for hemorrhoids. The initial ratings for his right knee and left knee disabilities are also granted at 30 percent each. For migraine headaches, an initial rating of 50 percent is granted.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea has not been established, but he is service connected for residual scarring from UPPP. The Board finds the criteria for service connection have not been met for sleep apnea.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected restrictive lung disease, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected nasal fracture residuals are rated at 50% and continue to be productive of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, necessitating the use of a CPAP machine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is a separate compensable rating, but no other neurological manifestations of his lumbosacral disc disease are separately rated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action due to a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the right and left knees were denied. However, his claim for increase in degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted with a rating of 20 percent effective April 12, 2011.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted an initial disability evaluation of 20 percent, effective November 23, 2010.

The Veteran's varicocele is not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and his sleep apnea is not found to be related to service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not service-connected, as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by his military service. The VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not been productive of unfavorable ankylosis, and he already has separate service-connected disabilities for neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claim for a higher initial evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an increased rating for a left thigh liposarcoma has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's gout in the feet was first manifested during active duty service and is presumed to have been incurred therein. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, a disability of the upper bilateral extremities, and sleep apnea are all granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings on her interstitial cystitis, lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity polyneuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for a VA spine and peripheral nerves examination, and ensuring all pertinent evidence is considered.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of bilateral ankle sprains, right knee disorder, and bilateral pes planus have been reopened. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection has also been granted for chronic obstructive sleep apnea, but the claim remains pending as new evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea with bronchial asthma is rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6847. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis does not meet any specific criteria for a separate rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his service, specifically his deployment in Kuwait and Iraq during the Gulf War. The Board also found that he had symptoms of a respiratory disability since service separation.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to potential service exposure, but did not specify a rating or effective date.