Sleep apnea Board decisions

For the period from June 8, 2011, the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with mechanical low back pain has been manifested by limited motion and pain. The VA examination reports do not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification of private audiological reports and a new VA examination, as well as issuance of an SOC on the increased rating and reopening claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since December 2008. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability is granted, and his left ankle injury residuals are rated at the lowest possible rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need to consider former rating criteria and additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for voiding dysfunction, as a residual of adenocarcinoma of the prostate, is denied. The RO has granted a 40 percent rating for this disability.

The Board has determined that additional medical examination and opinion are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and low back disability. The claims will be remanded to allow for this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee injury, low back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and sinusitis. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to military service.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her military service or due to her service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee disability, migraine headaches, and hypertension. The Veteran's appeals for ischemic heart disease, sleep apnea, and GERD are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease has been rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and clarifying the examiner's opinion regarding whether any current skin disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with spinal stenosis is found to have its onset during combat service in Korea and is therefore granted as service connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not related to a service-connected disability, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his skin disorder.,The Veteran's back disorder (including scoliosis and sacroiliitis) claim requires additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service or pre-existing defects aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right knee disorder claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current right leg/knee disorders, including sleep apnea.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim requires an opinion on whether it is related to service. The pes planus claim is also remanded as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hypertension, mitral valve disorder, post-concussion syndrome (residuals of TBI), restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, left ankle disorder, left hip disorder, or right knee disorder. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the appeal is now pending with the RO.