Sinusitis decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request in an August 2014 statement.

Service connection granted for right leg shin splints. Service connection denied for left eye irritation with corneal abrasion, upper respiratory infection, and hypertension.,The Veteran's right leg shin splints are likely related to service, but his left eye irritation is not.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was also granted, but the claim for a compensable rating for nasal disability (rhinitis/sinusitis) remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a heart disorder or sinusitis, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The increased rating claims for dermatitis of the hands and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate rating of 30% for traumatic arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the left knee beginning April 6, 2015. He also received a compensable rating (30%) for residual scar, status-post cyst excision of the left calf effective April 6, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic sinus disability related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection for sinusitis. The issue of bilateral shin splints is pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a 10 percent evaluation for his right knee strain. The other issues related to the Veteran's conditions have also been resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as he did not experience incapacitating episodes or significant nasal obstruction.,Tinnitus was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not decided whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen each individual claim. The initial rating for depressive disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral shin splints and sinusitis was granted. The claims for increased ratings for right ankle strain, migraines, major depressive disorder, low back strain, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus were also granted with specific rating assignments.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and basic eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current left knee disorder is as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of second and fourth metatarsal fractures of the left foot. The Board grants entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, providing VCAA notice, and affording the Veteran a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his asthma and service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability (including sinusitis and rhinitis) and sleep apnea are being remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, deviated nasal septum, and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or a deviated septum related to military service. Obstructive sleep apnea was also not found to be directly related to service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not related to his service and denied all of his claims.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have onset during his active service or were caused by his military service.