Sinusitis decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest in service or within one year of service and are not otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, fibromyalgia, thyroid disability, gastrointestinal disability, upper respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), skin disorder, and hysterectomy are related to service. As such, these claims have been granted.,The Board has also found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, fibromyalgia, thyroid disability, gastrointestinal disability, upper respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), skin disorder, and hysterectomy are related to service. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Board found no evidence of a sinusitis disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.,There was no hearing loss diagnosed in service, and the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not caused by or a result of an event in military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional opinions regarding its etiology. The appeal is again REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition began during active duty service. The Veteran's other claims have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected sinusitis with headaches and anosmia, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any current residuals of his in-service injuries or conditions, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from March 23, 2017. Service connection for residuals of renal cell carcinoma and sinusitis has been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis, sleep apnea, and posttraumatic stress disorder are all attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and other conditions such as anxiety disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the TDIU claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic sinus condition, including sinusitis. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of medical opinions and potential new evidence.

The Veteran's residuals of fracture, left maxilla, nasal bones, and vomer with maxillary sinusitis and headaches are currently rated at 10 percent under DC 6513. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, cervical spine, respiratory disorder (manifested by sinusitis and/or rhinitis), and respiratory disorder (manifested by asthma) conditions are not related to her military service. Her hypertension is also not related to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, an eye disability (presumably a pre-existing condition), hemorrhoids, non-allergic rhinitis, and knee disabilities. The Board also found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for right leg varicose veins, chronic venous embolism, or deep vein thrombosis. Service connection has been granted for non-allergic rhinitis due to a service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran is granted a 50 percent rating for sinusitis and his TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle and sinus conditions, as well as whether service connection should be granted for these conditions. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of her conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for rhinitis, right finger joint pain, left finger joint pain and sinusitis during a December 2016 Travel Board hearing. The remaining issue of service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for right foot injury is pending, but the appeal is not about service connection at all.,Service connection has been denied for sinus disability and eye infection as they are not attributable to service.