Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain SSA disability benefits information.

The Veteran's deviated septum, status post-repair, is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination report and missing treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's condition began during his active duty and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's sinusitis has not been manifested by incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes requiring treatment, so his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's chronic maxillary sinusitis has worsened since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. New and material evidence has reopened claims for bilateral elbow disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and chronic sinusitis but the claims are denied on their merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for meningitis, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy, skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, headaches, lumbar spine DDD, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck stiffness, disability manifested by spitting blood, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and gait ataxia. The Board also remanded for additional development regarding outstanding records from the James Haley VAMC and Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in the form of VA examinations and obtaining medical records for the Veteran's allergy condition, skin condition, low back disability, and GERD. The appeal will be remanded to allow for these steps.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral foot disability, heart disability, skin disorder (claimed shaving problems), and allergic rhinitis due to environmental hazard exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have had environmental exposures during his service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was reopened and granted effective August 8, 2012. The previous denial of the claim in November 1976 and January 2004 is considered final.

The Board has decided to remand twelve service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The remaining fourteen issues were previously denied in a November 2014 rating decision and require issuance of a statement of the case.

This decision denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims of residuals to a head injury, including headaches, memory loss, and cerebral atrophy, as well as sinusitis secondary to deformity of the nose are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a 50 percent rating for sinusitis, effective April 19, 2009. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the service-connected sinusitis is remanded.

Service connection for depression is granted. The claims for higher initial disability ratings for right ankle and left knee disabilities, as well as the claim for an earlier effective date for left knee scar, are dismissed. Service connection for a right knee disability and a left ankle disability is remanded. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied. The claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is denied.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are needed to determine the nature, etiology, severity, and current status of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, sinusitis, fracture of left index finger, fracture of left long finger, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sinusitis, rhinitis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right hand disability and sinusitis have been dismissed as the evidence does not establish current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right fifth finger scar and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and unspecified depressive disorder.