Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance of another person during his period of incarceration from May 1991 to April 1997 is denied as he does not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran seeks service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dementia. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during service and their relationship to any in-service events or injuries.

The Board finds that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not incurred during his period of active service, and grants service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, low back disorder, tremor of the right hand, or Raynaud's phenomenon. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for another VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder during active duty and denied service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative joint disease of the spine as there is no credible evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's low back disability, including a laminectomy and discectomy with fusion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to limited forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and a separate rating for right lower extremity neurological impairment was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his lumbar spine condition or any associated neurologic symptoms.

The Veteran's compensation benefits were reduced due to his incarceration. The Board found that the reduction was proper, but noted insufficient evidence regarding the date of conviction and remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the Veteran's lay evidence. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected right shoulder and back disabilities. The case will be processed as though the request for a hearing was withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea must be remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a right distal fibula fracture with degenerative arthritis warrant a 20 percent disability rating, but no higher. The other issues have been addressed and are mixed in disposition.

The Board has granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The Veteran's low back and left elbow disabilities are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and contemporaneous examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the condition began during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for retinitis pigmentosa, as well as her claim for uterine fibroid tumors, are being remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral radiculopathy and depressive disorder, precluded gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise have qualified him from December 16, 2003 to August 9, 2004. The TDIU claim is granted during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus of the right foot, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left chronic knee disability, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine as secondary to his service-connected left foot disability.