Sinusitis decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical evidence and to schedule the appellant for an appropriate VA aid and attendance or housebound examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are at least as likely as not related to his active service, including in-service treatment for a sinus condition. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The RO granted a disability rating of 30 percent for dizziness, effective April 2, 2012. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum rating for headaches associated with rhinosinusitis and a separate rating for rhinosinusitis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial ratings for urinary incontinence, sinusitis, and anemia have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a SOC on the issues of service connection for a hysterectomy, a compensable disability evaluation for service-connected endometriosis (claimed as infertility), and a temporary total evaluation of 100 percent.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and sinusitis are found to be related to active service. The claim for chronic upper respiratory infections is remanded as the evidence does not contain sufficient competent medical evidence to decide the claim.

The Veteran's pansinusitis post-operative bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery, turbinate surgery and septoplasty was rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating of 50 percent due to near constant sinusitis with headaches, pain, tenderness of affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and will be remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. Myron Fink and preparing an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the service connection of hypertension.

The Veteran's sinusitis was granted a 30% rating effective August 13, 2009. A separate 10% rating for chronic laryngitis is also granted.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis is related to active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran's neuropathy of the bilateral feet is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hallux valgus with Morton's neuroma remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's chronic allergic rhinitis is related to his active duty service and has continued since then. The claim for service connection for hypoglycemia is denied as there is no current disability manifested by hypoglycemia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including Aspergillosis, asthma, sinusitis and allergies, to include as due to asbestos exposure is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical evidence and needs further examination for both lumbar spine disorder and sinusitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a dental disability, sinusitis, and headaches as there is no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims. The Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis with headaches did not develop in or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for vision problems, sinusitis, dental disease, high cholesterol, headaches, and renal failure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability, including hay fever, sinusitis, and rhinitis, did not exist prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of current disability in these conditions as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to medications prescribed for his service-connected disabilities, and the claim for service connection for depression has been granted with a rating of 70 percent effective from March 7, 2011. The appellant is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status.

The Board found that the Veteran's current nasal disorder is not shown to be etiologically related to his active service, including as due to exposure to environmental substances.