Sinusitis decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bladder disability other than stress incontinence, stress incontinence, sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, and gastrointestinal disorder (including GERD, hiatal hernia, and residuals of a hernia repair) are all found to be related to her service.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for sinusitis prior to July 16, 2014.

The Board has granted a compensable evaluation (30%) for the Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, resolving the issue of entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates six or more episodes of non-incapacitating episodes causing nasal discharge, pain (sinus pressure), cough, and trouble breathing.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches has been rated at 30 percent since December 20, 2012. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to this date.

The Board has determined that MRSA was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the current existence of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their etiology. The appeal will be remanded for such development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and lung disorder, finding no current disability related to these conditions. The Veteran was not diagnosed with a lung disorder at his September 2016 VA examination, and there is no evidence of any current hearing loss or sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirement for a TDIU and are reasonably shown to render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 16, 2012.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been manifested by more than six non-incapacitating sinusitis episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, purulent discharge or crusting. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not warrant a 50% rating due to lack of radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis or near constant sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left foot gout, as well as chronic frontal sinusitis. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, rhinitis, and maxillary sinusitis were granted with effective dates of September 7, 2005. The Board found that the earlier effective date was warranted due to new service department records received after a final decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis, defective hearing, saddle deformity of the nose and tip collapse, degenerative disc disease, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient to render him incapable of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding his left shoulder disorder and maxillary sinusitis, as well as to ensure a complete record upon which to decide the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis/sinusitis was not manifested by at least one incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis; at least three non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting; any sinus surgery, to include radical; constant sinusitis; nor allergic or vasomotor rhinitis with polyps or without polyps but with greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side prior to October 9, 2013.,The Veteran's service-connected GERD was as likely as not manifested by at least mild symptomatology closely analogous for duodenal ulcer prior to October 9, 2013.

The Board determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis did not warrant a compensable rating, TMJ was not diagnosed or related to service, and bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year of separation. Therefore, these claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD, emphysema, and sinusitis, are not related to service on a direct basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his in-service asbestos exposure. The VA examiner opined that the current diagnoses are less likely caused by or a result of asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper respiratory disability, to include sinusitis and rhinitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, private medical records, and information regarding Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. The Veteran must also be asked whether he is alleging that a respiratory disability, specifically sinusitis and rhinitis, is secondary to his service-connected headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to his service-connected allergic rhino-sinusitis and grants service connection for this condition.