Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is needed before deciding the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with bilateral radiculopathy.,Regarding the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), the evidence does not support finding that it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, including whether it was caused by or permanently aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for schizophrenia and depression, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea due to internal inconsistencies in the psychiatric examination. The claim of service connection for PTSD is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues, including service connection and increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine was denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, and sleep apnea are remanded due to a lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for a sleep disorder other than sleep apnea, to include insomnia. The maximum benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of his service-connected disabilities in combination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are rated at 20 percent, effective from December 4, 2012.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease has been evaluated at a 20 percent rating since November 22, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of this amount.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain private treatment records and VA treatment records for the Veteran's lumbosacral disability and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is causally related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for a lung disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals as they are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain was denied, and the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to unclear status of the service connection for obesity and inextricably intertwined issues with hypertension. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, skin disorder, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The issues were not fully addressed as some of them are related to existing conditions or have been previously adjudicated.

The Board denied all claims for service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or objective indications of chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness related to service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of any claimed conditions, and no presumptive exposure to herbicide agents was established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a spine examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 1, 2005. The claim for a higher initial rating is denied.,Prior to August 23, 2012, the Veteran was not entitled to separate ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbosacral spine disability. Since that date, he has been rated at 10 percent each for these manifestations of his service-connected low back disability.,Effective August 23, 2012, the Veteran's right leg radiculopathy is rated as 10 percent disabling and his left leg radiculopathy is also rated as 10 percent disabling.