Sinusitis decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted. However, the denial of service connection for sinusitis remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was granted, and he is entitled to compensation based on exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, respiratory disorder (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the preexisting conditions did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including review of new VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The issues on appeal are whether service connection should be granted for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to sinusitis with allergic rhinitis or chronic pain from service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right plantar fasciitis, as well as sinusitis. The claim for sickle cell trait was granted based on new evidence not being material.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia, a laboratory test result, is not a disability under VA law and therefore cannot be granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis and service connection for a lung condition (claimed as chronic scar/calcified lung).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic rhino-sinusitis, status post septoplasty is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records and medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a nose injury with a deviated nasal septum and sinusitis have been rated as the maximum available under applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for all issues, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's asthma and sinusitis have been evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the earliest date of onset for the Veteran's right trigeminal autonomic cephalgia, as well as to provide opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed cardiac disability and sinusitis. The effective date for service connection will be remanded along with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a low back disability, allergic rhinitis, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis. The remaining issues are either not addressed or remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD, left arm pain and numbness, sinusitis, or left knee condition. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including back disability, hypertension, bilateral foot disability, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and memory loss. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant medical records and re-adjudicate the claims.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis or rhinitis, and the Board finds no service connection is warranted for these conditions.,Bilateral hearing loss was also denied as it is not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, including pes planovalgus and plantar fasciitis with arthritis, is found to be related to service. The Veteran's sinusitis claim has been remanded for further examination and opinion.