Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, and borderline personality disorder.

The Board denied a higher rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for sleep apnea, but Crohn's disease, mitral valve prolapse, and tension headaches were each rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, finding severe limitation of motion. The current 10 percent rating for sinusitis and rhinitis is maintained.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, manifested by severe limitation of motion and neurological findings including decreased strength, warrants a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for the loss of tooth #8 due to dental trauma incurred during active military service. Service connection was also granted for undiagnosed illness manifested by diarrhea, fatigue, memory loss, and obstructive sleep apnea, all related to the veteran's Persian Gulf War service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's status post excision of chondrosarcoma of the right cricoid cartilage of subglottic area, claimed as cancer of the larynx, based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with sclerosis and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence provided.

The VA determined that the veteran's lumbosacral strain does not warrant a higher rating than the current 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain is currently manifested by symptomatology consisting of muscle spasm on extreme forward bending and pain on motion with recurring episodes of low back pain relieved with conventional therapy and nonprescription medication. The criteria for an increased evaluation greater than 20 percent have not been met.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (lumbosacral spine disability, residuals of a right thigh GSW, and status post arthroplasty, right knee) prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for establishing entitlement to TDIU are met.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with minimal degenerative changes is currently evaluated at 20 percent and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability, finding that the current level of disability is consistent with moderate lumbosacral strain or moderate limitation of motion. The July 1969 rating decision assigning a single 30 percent evaluation for GSW residuals was not found to contain clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective from June 12, 1985 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since that date.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back and leg injuries, have caused him to be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his pain and limited mobility.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his lumbosacral spine disability was denied as the RO found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle fracture and lumbosacral strain were denied, while the appeal regarding service connection for a right shoulder disability and a left index finger injury was dismissed due to lack of timely substantive appeal.