Sinusitis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a Travel Board hearing before a third Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a temporary claims folder and procuring recent treatment records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for multiple myeloma, chloracne/skin disability, arthritis, sinusitis, asthma, and hypertension have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability related to service or the exposure basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for refractive error, chronic sinusitis, and a bilateral leg disability characterized by cramping and neuropathy. The issues of entitlement to service connection for chronic sinusitis and a bilateral leg disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiac arrest due to or as a consequence of acute myocardial infarction and coronary atherosclerosis, which were related to his in-service high blood pressure readings and chest pains. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis warrants a 10 percent disability rating from July 1, 2008 to August 11, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a disability rating of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability. His claim for an increased disability rating for prostatitis prior to July 1, 2013, and greater than 40 percent from that date, was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, bronchial asthma, lumbosacral strain, left arm radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, residuals of a right wrist injury with fibrositis, left ankle injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, left knee injury, and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for a VA examination by an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist), and readjudicating the claims.

The Board found no credible evidence demonstrating a diagnosis of asthma that is related to service or to a service-connected disorder, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma.

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The evidence does not show three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. For his left shoulder disability and low back disability claims, new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports.

The appellant has withdrawn all issues related to the appeal, including those regarding service connection for PTSD and anxiety, evaluations of shoulder conditions, major depressive disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension and a history of myocardial infarction, bronchitis, and sinusitis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disability and bilateral great toenail disability.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation due to lack of incapacitating episodes or other symptoms.,For arthritis of the left hip, the evidence did not show flexion limited to 45 degrees as required for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 5252.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, seasonal allergic rhinitis with deviated septum, and sinusitis were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for stress fractures of the left foot and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. Service connection for right foot bunion is not established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence. The issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis, claimed as sinusitis, and an initial compensable rating for residuals of right eye cyst, post-lancing, are in need of further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the Veteran's employment status.