Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease (DDD) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a back disability and sleep apnea, but remands are required to obtain additional information regarding these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the feet, right knee, and low back are deemed to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), asthma, and intractable plantar keratoses. The effective dates for the 20% evaluations were not granted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection on the merits. The RO found that there was no evidence to support the claimed conditions and that the existing evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and left ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence including VA treatment records and SSA disability determination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted as the disability had its onset during active duty and is related to his in-service symptoms of headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis and lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for an increased evaluation of chronic acne vulgaris prior to February 8, 2010, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hip disorders are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately addresses his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current sleep disability is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to prevent her from engaging in and retaining substantially gainful employment, thus granting TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and post-operative cardiac arrhythmia, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and temporary total rating based on convalescence from a CABG were denied. The effective date could not be established as the claim was received more than one year after the surgery, which is when entitlement arose.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint disease is found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for more recent records, specifically a VA bone scan from October 2005. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability with radiculopathy is being reviewed.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain from February 16, 2010 through November 2, 2010. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain does not meet the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation, and thus denied restoration of the previously reduced rating.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, and as a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.