Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are not well grounded and have denied both his claim for an increased rating for chronic strain, lumbosacral sacroiliac coccygodynia and his claim for a compensable disability rating for malaria.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for panic disorder and a non-increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic lumbosacral strain and tinnitus, are sufficiently severe to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's conditions do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability evaluation, and thus denied his claims.

The Board has granted a 40% rating for the veteran's low back disorder, which includes degenerative disc disease and postoperative residuals of an L4-L5 herniated disc. The condition produces severe limitation of motion of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his skull fracture with cephalalgia and conversion reaction warrant a rating of 10 percent. The decision is based on severe degenerative disease in the lumbosacral spine and subjective complaints of headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with arthritis, status post laminectomy warrants a 40 percent disability rating due to severe intervertebral disc syndrome.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her lumbosacral strain with MRI evidence of a herniated disc at L4-5 was denied by the RO. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is the maximum available under VA regulations. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's right knee postoperative residuals with degenerative joint disease and chronic lumbosacral strain, but denied an increase in rating for his postoperative right knee with laxity.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluations of the right shoulder, right knee, and lower back strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lumbosacral strain is a chronic condition incurred during service and secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disability, warranting service connection.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the appellant's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including a new VA examination and consideration of whether service connection should be granted for lumbosacral disc syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service. The claim for increased rating for left knee disability is pending.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective October 3, 1997.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the veteran's lumbosacral strain but denied an increased rating for gastritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine conditions, left ankle fracture residuals, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable initial rating for sinusitis with tinnitus and headache. A separate 10 percent disability evaluation was granted for tinnitus. The remaining claims were denied.

The veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, including arthritis, was granted service connection. Service connection for chloracne is denied. The veteran received a 30% rating for left retinal detachment and a 10% rating for prostatectomy due to adenocarcinoma of the prostate.