Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for retinitis pigmentosa, which was previously denied in September 1991. The veteran's pre-existing condition is now considered aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his fatal cardiac arrhythmia was not caused by any disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for residuals of a lumbosacral spine laminectomy and discectomy with a herniated nucleus pulposus, finding that the evidence did not show pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome or separately ratable neurological manifestations due to the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The veteran's low back disability, manifested by pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome with muscle spasm and intermittent relief of symptoms, warrants a 60 percent rating under the revised criteria for evaluating intervertebral disc syndrome.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 10 percent since the rating period on appeal, and a higher rating is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right mandible and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence does not support an increase in disability rating beyond the current 20% and 40% ratings respectively.

The VA determined that the veteran's low back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and is not related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for increased evaluations of plantar fasciitis/heel spur syndrome and lumbosacral spine disorder with hypertrophic spurring and sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for depressive disorder and anorexia nervosa, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA disability rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the veteran with an orthopedic examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the veteran's current condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by any disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a sinus condition. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions had their onset during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injuries or conditions that could be linked to the veteran's current disabilities. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, finding that his ability to complete courses for medical school did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board found that lumbosacral strain does not currently exist and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and neurological manifestations to his right lower extremity were denied. The RO continued the evaluations at 10 percent prior to December 16, 1998, and at 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's retinitis pigmentosa existed prior to service and was not aggravated during active duty, thus denying service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's chronic T12 and L1 vertebral compression fracture residuals, which were previously rated as 10 percent.

The veteran's low back disability, characterized by lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.