Sinusitis decisions — 2016

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU, and her service-connected disability renders her unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, maxillary and frontal sinusitis, right knee chondromalacia, and allergic rhinitis, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected chronic sinusitis remains in appellate status, with the RO having granted a staged rating of 30 percent effective October 29, 2015. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain all relevant medical records and provide another VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including sinusitis and bronchitis, are not related to his military service. COPD is unrelated to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a failure to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sinusitis were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his service, nor do they meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported sinus problems since service are less credible, and there is no medical evidence of a current disability related to his in-service complaints. The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed sinusitis disability for which he can seek service connection.

The Veteran's thyroid disorder and respiratory disability are presumed to have been incurred during his service, while the issue of trembling is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and right ear hearing loss, as well as his attempts to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis were denied. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during active duty service that resulted in an additional disability or aggravation of his congenital Chiari malformation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his claimed sinusitis.

The Board finds that service connection for a GI disorder, to include GERD, is warranted as the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's GI disability, to include GERD, is related to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including panic disorder with agoraphobia) is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's residuals of a fractured nose to include sinusitis are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's sinusitis has not required radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, nor is it shown to be near constant characterized by headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinus and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries. As such, a rating in excess of 30 percent for sinusitis is not warranted.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition has been granted. The other issues on appeal are pending further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for sinusitis and colon polyps prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his service-connected deviated septum and allergic rhinitis. The Board also found that there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or a chronic lung disorder (including chronic bronchitis and COPD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board is remanding the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum and/or maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and sinus headaches.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral corneal abrasion, a left hand disorder, sinusitis, and gingivitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, nerve damage of the left arm, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.