Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for effective dates and increased rating have been granted. Effective August 16, 1996, the Veteran was granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with an initial rating of 20 percent. The claim for COPD has a retroactive effective date of August 1, 1994.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective April 18, 2001. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral arthritis, bilateral hip arthritis, and osteoporosis of the back. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for limitation of motion of the left knee with osteoarthritic changes was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are related to service, granting her claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his post-operative residuals of degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied as there is no legal merit or lack of entitlement under the law. His claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a higher rating also failed due to absence of legal merit or lack of entitlement under the law.

The Veteran's claim for an initially compensable evaluation for status post fusion scars, midline low back and posterosuperior iliac crest associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine status post plates with screws at L4-5 and L5-S1 was denied. The Board also found that service connection for PTSD, a bilateral hip disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder is not warranted as secondary to a service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for recurrent lumbosacral strain was granted, with a 20% disability rating effective July 16, 2002.

The Veteran's low back strain is rated at 10 percent, and his right knee disabilities are rated as follows: prior to October 7, 2003 - 10 percent; from October 7, 2003 to February 16, 2006 - 10 percent for extension limitation and 20 percent for flexion limitation; after February 16, 2006 - 30 percent for total right knee arthroplasty. The Veteran's service connection claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate reasons and bases in previous decisions, as well as other procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for panhypopituitarism, and the Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of throbbing shoulder pain, bilateral wrist disorder, and a disability rating greater than 30 percent for service-connected abdominal hysterectomy due to endometriosis have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeal concerning these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for gastritis was granted, as well as the reopened claims for service connection for numbness of the right hand (carpal tunnel syndrome) and left hand (carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Veteran's service-connected bulimia nervosa and major depressive disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, effective December 4, 2004.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective May 30, 2007. His right lower extremity radiculopathy also received a grant of benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and a gastric ulcer and submucosal esophageal lesion, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during his active duty service. The Board also found that any current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was rated at 20 percent from March 5, 2003 through January 21, 2009. Since January 21, 2009, the rating has been increased to 40 percent.