Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for variously diagnosed skin disorders, finding no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current skin conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, arthritis of the right knee, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The appeal is remanded to the Board for further adjudication of service connection for a disorder characterized by 'excessive daytime sleepiness,' whether diagnosed as narcolepsy or as secondary to OSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a connection between his current disabilities and military service or warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and impingement syndrome of the left shoulder, but granted a 40 percent rating for the same period for the lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's hypertension was incurred in or aggravated by active service, while his sleep apnea and skin cancer were not.

The Board remands the claim for a VA medical examination to determine the etiology and approximate onset date of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine that is greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, and an increased evaluation to 20 percent was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine secondary to a shell fragment wound, and for initial compensable evaluations for residual scars on the left axilla and buttock.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post fusion, was found to be service-connected. However, he does not have a right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, liposarcoma of the right bicep, and a broken right arm as none of these conditions were related to his military service or presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board remands the case for another VA examination to determine if a current back disorder is related to service, specifically addressing an injury in 1980.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain, and the Board found that a left knee disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not related to active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes and increased the rating to 20 percent, effective February 11, 2005. The Board also granted ratings of 20 percent for right and left lower peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for duodenal ulcer disease and a separate 10 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease by X-ray with painful motion, but the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, PTSD, and left knee instability were remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea is not related to military service or to the service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea must be denied.

The Board remands the case for further development of the record, including a new VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and to provide the Veteran with proper notice of the laws and regulations governing his claims.