Sinusitis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his migraine headaches, preclude him from substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is unemployable due to these disabilities and grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis are not related to his military service. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disorders is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disorder, to include arthritis.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disability, finding that the Veteran's current sinusitis is at least as likely as not related to his in-service sinusitis. However, the claim of service connection for a right eye disability was denied due to lack of diagnosis and credible evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed conditions of loss of sense of smell and taste, sinusitis (diagnosed as allergic rhinitis), and asthma were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, non-allergic rhinitis, and scars about the nose, all claimed as secondary to a service-connected nasal fracture.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sinusitis, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, low back disability and sinusitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis. However, additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his PTSD and sinusitis, do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's recurrent sinusitis with headaches was found to have begun during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, lumbar disc herniation, lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral osteoarthritis, and bilateral sciatica of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's sleep disorder is considered a symptom of his service-connected PTSD and not a separate disability. The Board has denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity (frostbite), sinusitis, and jaw disorders are not related to service. The psychiatric disorder is presumed based on in-service trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his sleep apnea, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss. The VA will then review the claims again.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show entitlement to higher ratings within a year of the date of claim.,An effective date earlier than June 15, 2007 was denied for the 20 percent rating for residuals of a fracture of the left tibia due to lack of medical records in the year prior to the claim.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, concussion with post-traumatic headaches, and chronic sinusitis are all rated at the lowest possible initial disability ratings due to their severity not meeting higher criteria.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current sinusitis disability related to service, and thus, the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis with headaches is denied.