Sinusitis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a VA examination for the Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy and to issue a Statement of the Case on all issues found denied in the July 2012 and October 2012 rating decisions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to February 4, 2009 is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether she meets the criteria for extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and his maxillary sinusitis and dermatitis are each rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for COPD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, or head injury. The Veteran is entitled to increased evaluations for focal pain syndrome with severe migraine headaches and post-traumatic scar of the left forehead.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of radical or repeated surgeries required to warrant a higher rating. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been raised and will be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a preexisting condition aggravated by service, as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of such aggravation. For tinea pedis, the claim was also denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to her service-connected right knee disability.,Her left knee disability is not directly related to service, but rather due to overcompensation for the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders are not related to his military service, including exposure to asbestos and in-service pneumonia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a respiratory disability, including COPD, asthma, and sinusitis are being remanded due to inadequate development.

The Board has granted service connection for intermittent right maxillary neuralgia, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his active military service. Service connection was denied for chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's maxillary sinusitis and allergic rhinitis do not warrant a compensable rating as they do not meet the criteria for any of the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise the September 3, 2010 decision that denied an effective date prior to June 16, 1998 for service connection of maxillary sinusitis. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including the provision of an examination and consideration of whether his service-connected conditions alone rendered him unemployable prior to August 15, 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease. The compensable rating for sinusitis claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have been continuously present since then.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a deviated nasal septum was denied, and his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending. The Board finds that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinus disorder (claimed as sinusitis), and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection in all three cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nasal spur disorder manifested by nosebleeds and his sinusitis are service-connected. The nasal spur is found to be related to service, while the sinusitis is also found to be related to service due to its chronic nature.