Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her claimed sinusitis, heart/cardiovascular disability, hypertension, sleep disorder, and depression. The VA is required to provide a new examination or obtain medical opinions in order to determine if these conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical dysplasia and remanded the issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis.

Service connection for sleep apnea is granted. A 30 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted beginning June 15, 2015 and a 50 percent rating from November 15, 2016 onward.,A rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 15, 2015 and in excess of 50 percent after November 15, 2016 for migraine headaches is denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent or 50 percent for recurrent sinusitis is also denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left arm disability, headaches, and rhinitis due to conflicting evidence. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her left knee patella femoral syndrome and left ankle Achilles' tendonitis are denied as there is no current disability found.

Service connection for sinusitis is granted.,From January 19, 2016 to June 27, 2016, a rating of 40 percent for status post lumbar spine surgery with degenerative arthritis and compression deformity at L4 is granted. From January 19, 2016, the Veteran's low back disorder approximates flexion to 30 degrees or less when considering functional loss.,From January 1, 2013 to June 27, 2016, an initial rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches is granted. From January 1, 2013, the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches have not been met.,Service connection for left eye iritis is remanded.,Service connection for right upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome is remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity cubital syndrome is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for the issues of right hip disability, chronic sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims will be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and requests for these records have not been completed. The Veteran is also requested to provide any additional medical records from private providers, including Dr. Baldwin.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for deviated septum and sleep apnea, as these issues are intertwined. The VA is instructed to schedule a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral ear disability, and sinus condition/allergic rhinitis due to inadequate examination reports. The claims are being returned for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis, residuals of pneumonia, and lichen planus of the bilateral wrists and ankles due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with associated peripheral neuropathy, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that the conditions first manifested in service and are related to service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for both allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's conditions were caused by pesticide spray exposure during his National Guard service in 1994.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the rating for chronic sinusitis with a history of barotrauma, and the Board dismisses this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his National Guard service, inadequate medical opinions on the nature of his conditions, and potential issues with prior rating decisions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations and service connection, except for the claim seeking to reopen a claim for glaucoma (also claimed as cataracts). The other claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and remands several issues for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory obstruction, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. The decision is mixed as some claims are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, traumatic brain injury residuals, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and sinusitis have been granted. The claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability and reopened the claim for allergic rhinitis, finding new evidence that supports the Veteran's claim.