Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board granted a 40% evaluation for spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine and a 20% evaluation for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder, effective April 6, 1995.

The Board finds that the veteran's costal cartilage chondroma with chondrosarcomatous transformation is secondary to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current back disorders to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD and DJD was granted a 20 percent evaluation from July 8, 1997, to April 10, 2000.,A current evaluation in excess of 40 percent for the service-connected condition is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease did not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected osteochondroma of the left distal fibula and lumbosacrum, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation. The decision also noted that there was no indication that the osteochondroma had resulted in marked interference with employment.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with spinal stenosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and lumbosacral strain, as well as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right fourth finger. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis at the C3-4 and C4-5 levels is currently rated as 30 percent disabling due to moderate limitation of motion, pain, and fatigue. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to slight limitation of motion.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and residuals of a June 14, 1997 motor vehicle accident were denied. The claim for residuals was not available as a matter of law due to the lack of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and duodenal ulcer, with irritable colon, were denied as the current evaluations are considered appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board finds that the veteran's disability is most appropriately evaluated as lumbosacral strain under Code 5295, and no higher rating can be granted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for lesions on the arms, back, and buttocks (diagnosed as neurofibromas) and a sleep/breathing disorder (diagnosed as sleep apnea syndrome) are not well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected asthma did not contribute to his death, and denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected myxoid liposarcoma warrants a 30 percent evaluation from February 1, 1993, based on residual disabilities including tender and painful scars, numbness of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and moderately severe injury to Muscle Group XIV.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on the current evidence of record. The evaluations are consistent with the severity and nature of his disabilities.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a 50 percent disability evaluation for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and consideration of secondary service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's cervical and lumbosacral spine disabilities do not warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent or restoration to a 20 percent evaluation, respectively.