Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a lumbosacral disability, finding that there was no evidence to support direct service connection or secondary service connection due to his pre-existing foot condition. The Board also found clear and unmistakable evidence that the veteran's preexisting plantar fasciitis did not worsen during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current left hip condition, and the lumbosacral spine disorder was not productive of complete bony fixation or incapacitating episodes as required for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective August 26, 2000.

The veteran's dysthymia is rated at 30 percent, and he remains unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's sciatica of the left lower extremity, effective September 23, 2002. The veteran's low back disability claim includes complaints and contentions with respect to both orthopedic and neurologic symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision denying service connection for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is not final and requires further development before a final determination can be made.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, including early discogenic changes at L3-4 and L4-5. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent is also granted for pain in the left leg, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from September 23, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and acne vulgaris, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the criteria at the time.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and COPD. The RO assigned noncompensable disability ratings initially in April 1998 and increased them to 10 percent effective August 23, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedules.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is related to an injury in service, and thus service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease/degenerative disc disease is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with DJD, cervical sprain with DJD, residuals of contusions and strain of the left elbow, and residuals of contusions of the right forearm as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, a systolic murmur, dysplasia, Achilles tendonitis, hip disorders, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right facial numbness due to cavernous sinus syndrome, but the initial ratings are both at the minimum (10%) level as they do not meet criteria warranting a higher rating based on current symptoms or medical evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, with low back pain and intermittent sciatica, did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss disability and determined that the veteran did not have moderate impairment in his left great toe, lumbosacral strain, or ankle condition at any point since service connection was established. The postoperative residuals of a left tibial shaft fracture with limited motion of knee were also rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's service-connected back disability, which includes residuals of lumbar discectomy with herniated nucleus pulposus, disc bulging, and stenosis of the lumbosacral spine, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not cause unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for further development and review of the claim, including a supplemental medical opinion from an orthopedic specialist.