Sinusitis decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, fingernail and toenail disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), a neck disability, a back disability, bilateral knee disability, sinusitis, and skin disability are denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for flat feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence clearly shows that the condition existed prior to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent and credible evidence to establish current diagnoses for the Veteran's claimed back condition or sinusitis. As such, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated assessment of his eligibility for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits, given changes in his employment status and combined evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee patellofemoral syndrome status post medial meniscectomy, and sinusitis have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tuberculosis, hepatitis, chronic allergic conjunctivitis of the eyes, sinusitis, and heart murmur were granted. He was also granted a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis. The claim for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, hemorrhoids, and inguinal hernia with right testicle pain is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing issue, and no new rating or effective date is assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, glaucoma, back disability (scoliosis), foot disability (pes planus), and primary insomnia (depression). The decision also noted that there was no current evidence of a sinus disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and a pulmonary disorder including asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis and COPD with emphysema are not related to his service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinosinusitis and found that the Veteran's current sinus disorder is of service origin. The gastrointestinal disorder (diverticulosis) claim was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an adequate etiological opinion.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, effective February 1, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral shoulder disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sinusitis as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for nasal obstruction with septal deviation and sinusitis, but has not granted either claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis is not related to his service-connected facial injury with residual tripod fracture of the left maxilla and zygoma depression. The Veteran's facial injury does not result in a compensable rating as it causes only occasional pain and difficulty chewing, which are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for sinusitis, but denied the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining his complete service treatment and personnel records.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's current sinus disorder is related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of pansinusitis is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.