Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board denied the claim for service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that there was no competent evidence linking current diagnoses to an inservice injury.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss was not well grounded due to lack of evidence meeting VA standards. The low back disability issue is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an increased rating for his cervical spine disability. The claim for service connection is not well-grounded, while the claim for an increased rating is well-grounded.

The veteran's thoraco-lumbar strain and Morton's neuroma of the left foot were granted initial ratings, while his sleep apnea with tonsillectomy residuals was not rated higher than a non-compensable rating.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine effective from December 16, 1998.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches with nausea and lumbosacral strain due to undiagnosed illness, finding the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was denied multiple times, and the effective date of his award is set at June 11, 1997.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with a right foot drop, effective July 11, 1995.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for hidradenitis suppurative is being remanded due to the need for further development. The case also remains on hold regarding reopening of a service connection claim for a lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with intermittent right sciatic neuralgia was rated at 40 percent since October 9, 1989. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right tarsal tunnel syndrome and reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the ankle and foot, left heel spur, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, all secondary to her service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee with chronic tenosynovitis.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of functional loss.

The Board has determined that there is no well-grounded claim for service connection of any of the claimed conditions. The veteran's claims were denied as his evidence did not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine with history of laminectomy at L4-5 was granted, effective from April 21, 1997.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from August 3, 1998. The 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritic changes of the lumbar spine remains unchanged.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, and thus denied them. The chest nerve damage claim was related to treatment provided for a service-connected lumbosacral strain with postoperative residuals of a T5-6 diskectomy. The leg disorder claim was secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain and status post diskectomy at T5-6.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbosacral strain. The current ratings of 30%, 20%, 50%, and 10% respectively are maintained.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral instability with DJD and for service connection for a chronic upper gastrointestinal disability as secondary to his low back disability. The veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of receipt of his claim. The veteran's total evaluation based on individual unemployability is remanded.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 40% since June 13, 2000.,The right knee disability was initially granted with a noncompensable rating from September 1, 1995 to February 11, 1998. It was then increased to 10% from February 12, 1998 to June 12, 2000 and further increased to 40% after that date.