Sleep apnea Board decisions

The veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep apnea and right toe fracture do not warrant a compensable rating. The increased rating for residuals of a right tibia fracture is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted. The denial was based on the lack of evidence linking the veteran's cancer to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA medical opinion to address whether the veteran's esophageal cancer was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine warrants a higher initial rating of 20 percent, effective October 3, 1996. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as there are no compensable ratings available under current regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's retinitis pigmentosa was not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current neck, thoracic spine, lumbosacral spine, right knee, right shoulder, right hip, right calf, or right foot disability. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not interfere with normal employment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after addressing any remaining issues.

The veteran's claimed disabilities, including fatigue, memory loss, breathing problems, joint pain, and skin rash, were not present during his active military service or are not related to such service. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain and left knee disorder do not warrant higher initial ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbosacral spine disability is denied. However, a separate 20% evaluation is granted for the associated right leg neurological deficit effective September 23, 2002. The claim for SMC based on loss of use of the right foot due to service-connected disability is also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The skin rash is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, but no current diagnosis of the claimed condition exists. Service connection for bronchitis or other respiratory disorder and arthritis of the back are also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and chronic sinus disorder are caused by his service-connected nasal fracture.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain effective from June 25, 2005.

The veteran's chronic strain of the lumbosacral spine was incurred during his active military service and is granted as service connected.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were granted, with the rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral arthritis, disc derangement, and degenerative spondylosis continuing. The effective date was set at October 12, 2000.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service or his service-connected anxiety disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.