Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for kyphosis, degenerative disc disease and degenerative facet joint disease of the thoracic spine and lumbar spine with radiculopathy; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pancreatitis secondary to hypertriglyceridemia; degenerative joint disease of the right hip; obstructive sleep apnea; and joint pain are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is causally related to his time in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had symptoms of sleep apnea during service and has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain with sciatica is related to his active military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint disease was granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, effective from July 27, 2007. Bilateral hearing loss was not service-connected and thus no rating is assigned.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hernia, sinusitis, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II and eczema (claimed as rash/itching), are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, and thus grants this aspect of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there was no nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative spurring of the left tibiotalar joint is granted with a 10 percent initial rating.,Tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are both found to be related to military service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes at L4-L5 and L5-S1 has been rated as 20 percent disabling since March 9, 1998. The rating was increased to 40 percent from April 25, 2005 to August 11, 2005.

The Veteran's right knee strain was characterized by flexion to at least 130 degrees and extension to 0 degrees, without lateral instability or recurrent subluxation prior to October 18, 2005. From October 19, 2005, the Veteran's right knee strain resulted in forward flexion limited to 110 degrees with mild neurological impairment.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was characterized by a full range of motion and no more than slight subjective symptoms prior to September 23, 2002. From September 23, 2002, to September 25, 2003, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain resulted in forward flexion limited to 90 degrees with mild spasm and pain.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right hip was characterized by flexion to 125 degrees and abduction to 45 degrees prior to September 9, 2003. From September 10, 2003, to October 18, 2005, the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right hip resulted in flexion limited to 75 degrees without ankylosis or flail joint.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, musculoskeletal pain due to undiagnosed illness, and numbness of outer legs. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran was granted service connection for residuals of dermatofibrosarcoma based on a liberalizing law allowing presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The effective date is set at one year prior to the date of receipt of his claim to reopen, which was February 6, 2007.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a lumbosacral strain disability and finds that it was aggravated by active duty service. The Veteran's current low back condition is related to his in-service duties.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that his current disorder did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.