Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disability require the aid and attendance of another person for daily activities, including protection from hazards, dressing, undressing, keeping clean, and attending to personal needs. Special monthly compensation on account of need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder was granted.,Service connection for left foot pes planus remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted a 50% rating, and his allergic rhinitis with deviated septum remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right wrist disability, back condition, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and skin disorder (including dermatitis and urticaria) due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is denied. The Veteran's claims for throat, shoulder disability, GERD, and right shoulder scars are all denied. The Veteran’s claims for sinusitis and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis is granted prior to November 13, 2017. A compensable rating beginning November 13, 2017, for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board has granted a 20% rating for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, effective from when the decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinosinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic allergies, sinusitis/rhinitis, and hypertension. The Board found that the Veteran's chronic allergies preexisted his military service and were not aggravated by it. The Board also determined that hypertension was not caused or aggravated by the claimed chronic allergies.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder on secondary basis, and obstructive sleep apnea on secondary basis are granted. The claim for sinusitis is remanded as the Veteran has not been provided a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current sinus disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis condition was not diagnosed at the time of the February 2013 rating decision, and a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his sinusitis.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent prior to November 9, 2016 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability diagnosed as pain disorder remains rated at 30 percent.,Effective dates for service connection are denied for an acquired psychiatric disability diagnosed as pain disorder and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for various disabilities and increased ratings. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to a fall during service, but no VA examiner has provided an opinion on this issue yet. His right ear hearing loss may be related to in-service noise exposure. His diabetes and erectile dysfunction are not caused by or worsened by his hypertension. A remand for further examination and development of records is required.

The Veteran's right wrist sprain is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the previous injury resolved.,The Veteran's upper back disability is denied due to lack of a current condition and insufficient evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's right ankle sprain is denied because her current condition does not align with in-service complaints or findings.,The Veteran's sinusitis is denied as there was no chronicity during service, and the current diagnosis is resolved.,The Veteran's abdominal pain (dysmenorrhea) is denied due to lack of evidence connecting it to service.,The Veteran's dry skin condition is denied because her current diagnosis does not align with in-service complaints.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements and buddy statements suggest potential service connection, but a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder due to exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including EBV and mononucleosis with residuals, chronic fatigue syndrome, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, neck scar, Bell's palsy, GERD, chronic sinusitis, bilateral shoulder condition, left index finger injury, left index finger scar, and right ear hearing loss have been granted.,The Board found the preponderance of evidence supported the Veteran's claims for service connection based on his in-service diagnoses and continued symptoms.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to increased ratings and service connection, as the Veteran withdrew her claims for these matters.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For his degenerative disc disease, C3-7 with prosthetic replacement of discs at C3/4 and C6/7, the Veteran needs a new examination to determine the severity of his condition from January 1, 2005 to April 22, 2008 and from August 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and sinusitis have been granted. However, the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are not met.