Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbosacral spine disability, as well as an increased rating for his service-connected left knee strain with degenerative changes and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is not productive of incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months, and his radiculopathy has been productive of pain, decreased sensation, and functional impairment. The Board granted an initial 40 percent disability evaluation for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with sleep apnea has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran is granted service connection for coronary artery disease, depressive disorder secondary to coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. Service connection was denied for a back disability, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorder, and sexual dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain were denied. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions.

The Veteran's back disability was initially rated at 10 percent in June 1998 and later increased to 20 percent effective November 3, 1997. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied as the evidence does not support an increase beyond 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was received within one year of his discharge from active duty, and thus an effective date of July 1, 2006 is granted.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening and denying service connection for low back or lumbosacral spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neck or cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance in purchasing specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lack of anatomical loss or use of either lower extremity.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected as it did not arise during active duty and is not linked to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disability that was incurred or aggravated by service, and the cervical spine disability is not shown to be aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis are related to service, while his umbilical hernia is not.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected back disability from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective October 1, 2007 was not proper. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for eczematous dermatitis is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and service-connected asthma, as well as other issues related to his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since discharge from service, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his spinal conditions were denied, and he was granted service connection for sleep problems. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to provide a VA examination. The examiner will determine if the Veteran's sleep disorder began during active service or is related to any incident of service, and whether it is caused or aggravated by pain medication he takes for service-connected disabilities.