Sinusitis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's sinusitis and GERD have been granted service connection, but the initial rating for GERD remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCD), and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of in-service stressors are deemed unreliable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including leukemic mononucleosis, lymphoma, deep white matter deviation to include memory loss, headaches other than sinusitis with headaches, bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral inner ear nerve damage to include vertigo and loss of balance, right-sided tongue paralysis, right-sided vocal cord paralysis, residuals of strep throat with heart murmur, right-sided neck gland swelling with difficulty swallowing and a near-esophageal knot, right shoulder rotator cuff disability, bilateral hand nerve damage, brittle fingernails, heart palpitations, hypertension, bilateral leg disorder to include weakness, edema, vascular deterioration, and varicose veins, bilateral knee disorder to include cartilage deterioration, bone grinding, and fatigue, bilateral ankle disorder to include edema, bilateral foot nerve damage to include the balls of the feet and the toes, brittle toenails, residuals of pneumonia, and dry skin. The claims were denied as not being related to service or any other basis.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for his lung condition and left testicular atrophy.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including nightmares and anxiety, resulted in reduced reliability and productivity. The current rating of 100% is appropriate.,For tension headaches from May 14, 2010 onwards, the Veteran has been granted a maximum schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denies her claim for an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disorder, including whether it is related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as left maxillary sinus cancer. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, and that the Veteran's left maxillary sinus cancer did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for dermatofibrosarcoma, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes, and service connection for a head disorder are being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have sinusitis or asthma that were incurred in service, and therefore denies both claims.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and multiple joint pain. The Veteran's current sinus disorder was not found to be related to his active service or due to exposure to toxins including CARC paint.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis, neck disability, and low back disability were not related to his military service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these disabilities and his active duty or National Guard service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset and nexus to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for chronic sinusitis was granted, and she is now receiving a 30% rating effective January 2, 2014.

The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are likely traceable to his period of active military duty, while the status of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and muscle pain remains unknown.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and found that the Veteran's chronic sinusitis is related to military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, and the Board grants service connection for this condition as secondary to the service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, dorsal osteoarthritis, and maxillary sinusitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.