Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board found that the increase in pre-existing retinitis pigmentosa during active service was due to its natural progression, and not attributable to service. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending as his rating has been increased to 100% effective February 13, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed respiratory disorder is related to active duty service or exposure to asbestos and/or ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and updated VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated based on the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation documents. He needs to be provided with a proper VCAA notice letter addressing how to establish service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's low back disability was not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 60 degrees or less, limitation of the combined ranges of motion to 120 degrees or less, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; incapacitating episodes were not shown. As a result, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with postoperative stenosis.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic cough with rhinitis is found to be the cause of his current obstructive sleep apnea and reactive airway disease/asthma, thus granting secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, have been granted.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's low back disability other than chronic lumbosacral strain was incurred in or aggravated by active service or by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of retinitis pigmentosa and finds that new evidence received since the final denial is sufficient to reopen the claim. The issue will now be reviewed on its merits.

The Veteran's service-connected joint pain due to undiagnosed illness is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent.,Service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected joint pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was manifested during his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea either had its onset during service or was aggravated by his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The decision grants service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for tinnitus was dismissed as a freestanding claim, not related to the reopening of his service connection claim.

The Board found no current disability of hypertension or sleep apnea during the appeal period and denied service connection for these conditions as they are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including rosacea, due to ionizing radiation exposure in service. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again after additional medical opinions are obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and left lower extremity conditions have been rated as appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.