Sinusitis decisions — 2013

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease, and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, nasal/sinus disorder, and hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis. The claim for an increased rating for peptic ulcer disease is granted.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, and his PTSD claim has been granted based on new evidence. The effective date for the PTSD rating is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's asthma and other service-connected conditions have not been found to warrant an extraschedular rating or a TDIU prior to October 25, 2006. The VA examinations and clinical records do not indicate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 24, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and right pleural effusion, history of maxillary sinusitis, right ear hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and sinusitis were found to be related to service exposure, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling conflict for the Veteran's requested personal hearing. The only issue remaining is whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 50 percent disability rating for sinusitis effective October 3, 2005. The evidence shows that his symptoms warranted this level of disability prior to that date.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bronchitis, sinusitis, tinea pedis, tinea versicolor and tinea cruris. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant records and provide the Veteran with adequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 50 percent rating is warranted due to near constant symptoms including headaches, pain, and purulent discharge after repeated surgeries.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be related to service, and his erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to a service-connected condition. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, continuous body aches and joint pains, gastrointestinal disorder, migraine headaches, skin rash, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for increased ratings and service connection were not substantiated by the evidence of record. The Board found that a higher rating for left knee disability and chronic sinusitis was not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a sinus condition, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's left heel and right heel disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's upper respiratory disability (sinusitis) is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected allergic rhinosinusitis and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for rhinitis and sinusitis was remanded multiple times. The case is now being returned to the RO for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing VCAA notice regarding a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder of the bilateral arms and hands, separate from her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome, is denied. The preponderance of evidence supports that any symptoms are related to her already service-connected condition.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis is granted based on objective findings and reported symptoms.