Sinusitis decisions — 2016

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for her service-connected sinusitis and a TDIU claim due to issues not being addressed in the previous decision. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current dizziness to service or a service-connected condition. Service connection for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis was granted, but not at a compensable rating as there were no incapacitating episodes of sinusitis or 3-6 non-incapacitating episodes per year.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral toe disability, and cellulitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. Her claim for a higher rating for sinusitis with headaches was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the December 2011 VA examiners regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis has been granted, and her claim for service connection for vertigo caused or aggravated by her service-connected recurrent invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for non-allopathic rib cage has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis, including rhinitis and bronchitis, was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's recurrent sinusitis and multiple mucus retention cysts were initially manifested during active service, and the Board has determined that these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including cataracts, prostate cancer, impotence, stroke residuals, sinusitis, bladder tumor, and sleep apnea, are not service-connected as they were first manifested many years after service without any credible evidence of a connection to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since April 24, 2008 and increased to 50% from September 10, 2014.,Sinusitis was initially rated as noncompensable but increased to 50% effective September 10, 2014.,Obstructive sleep apnea is service-connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative changes is related to service and he is granted service connection.,His sinusitis is rated at 50 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for occasional vertigo.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of septorhinoplasty including disfigurement of the nose is being remanded due to unclear service connection and development of symptoms related to sinusitis and headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease, left medial metatarsal DJD, and sinusitis. The evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Sinusitis/Allergic Rhinitis, and Residuals of Right Leg Injury (Punji Stick Wound). Bilateral Hearing Loss is not considered a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether COPD is related to his active duty service, but did not find new and material evidence in support of reopening a claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured nose to include obstructed nasal passages are rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA's rating schedule. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity and symptomatology of the Veteran's condition.