Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran died of malignant melanoma, a condition not service-connected. His death is not considered to be due to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, prostatitis, and sleep apnea due to herbicide exposure have been denied as there is no positive association between such conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current sleep disorder is related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to the RO for further action.

The RO reduced the veteran's rating for lumbosacral strain from 50% to 40%, effective December 1, 2007. The reduction was proper as it complied with procedural requirements and provided adequate notice.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine has been rated at 40 percent since December 31, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disk disease of the lumbosacral spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's lumbar spine disability warrants a rating of 60 percent, effective from the date of the initial claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder was denied. The VA determined that the current symptomatology did not warrant a higher rating than 40 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine if the condition existed prior to service or was aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headache disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbosacral spine was granted a 40 percent disability rating effective March 31, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent effective February 27, 2004.

The Veteran's lumbosacral paravertebral myositis was rated at 20 percent effective October 29, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than January 11, 2005 for the grant of service connection for retinitis pigmentosa.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and thyroid disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for VCAA notice regarding applicable diagnostic criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions, including rhino sinusitis, bronchitis, and sleep apnea. The claims will be re-adjudicated after this development.