Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and did not reopen the claim for lumbosacral spine disorder due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular ratings. Service connection claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private medical records and scheduling a new VA spine examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and issuance of a statement of the case on bilateral knee and hip disabilities.

Service connection for headaches and numbness of the right leg was denied. The Veteran's pes planus, bunions of the right foot, and bunions of the left foot were granted with a 10% rating each.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral disc disease with a rating of 20 percent and effective date of August 10, 2005. The claim to reopen for right knee disability is denied as new and material evidence does not show the Veteran now has such a condition. However, the claim to reopen for left knee disability is granted due to new and material evidence showing arthritis in the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a hearing before the Board. The case will be processed in accordance with established appellate procedure.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent since December 8, 2010. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right knee injury with patellofemoral syndrome has been granted, with the effective date being May 31, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with his military service. The claim for hypertension was previously denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA Spine examination.

The Board found no evidence of service origin for the Veteran's claimed conditions and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for sleep apnea and the issues of service connection for hearing loss, fracture right fifth metacarpal residuals, and sinus disability have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral foot disability and low back disability was denied. The maximum schedular rating available for the bilateral foot disability is already in effect, while the maximum schedular rating available for the low back disability has been assigned.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, lumbosacral spine were rated at 40 percent effective from July 23, 2009. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was also rated at 40 percent effective from January 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea with restless legs syndrome is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.