Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that her symptoms are not related to military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because the Veteran does not have a current disability. The Board notes that she did sustain acoustic trauma during active service, but this alone is not sufficient to establish service connection.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD due to MST is remanded as new evidence requires a review of her psychiatric symptoms under DSM-5 criteria.,Service connection for back disability is remanded as the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate and did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her back disability.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, is remanded as no sleep study has been performed to diagnose sleep apnea. The Board also notes that more information is needed about the status of her ovaries.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for major depressive disorder is remanded due to new information indicating worsening symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for salpingo-oophoritis with removal of right ovary is remanded as more information about the status of her ovaries is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

Service connection for a headaches disorder, sinusitis, and bilateral hip disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions were previously denied in May 2007. The current decision reiterates the previous denial.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient consideration of his in-service injury and continuity of symptoms. The Board requires an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected left knee disability and his low back disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disorder was denied. The Veteran received an initial disability rating of 50 percent for her migraine headaches from May 19, 2008 to November 15, 2016 and a 10 percent rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis from May 19, 2008 to July 5, 2012. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), right shoulder disability, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are currently pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for increased rating of chronic maxillary sinusitis due to outstanding private treatment records and recent VA treatment records needing to be obtained.

The Veteran's sinusitis and generalized anxiety disorder are granted, with a 50% evaluation for the latter beginning September 3, 2015. The left-hand crush injury claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right little finger, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability and locking in both knees. Recurrent sinusitis was assigned a noncompensable initial rating effective April 7, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of chronic sinusitis that manifested in or was otherwise related to military service.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for herpes simplex prior to September 22, 2011 is denied. The condition affected less than 5% of the entire body and required only topical therapy during the past year.,The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation for herpes simplex from September 22, 2011 to May 26, 2016 is granted as it affected at least 5% but less than 20% of the entire body and required prescribed antiviral medication with frequency.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for herpes simplex since May 26, 2016 is denied. The condition affected 5 to 20% of the total and exposed body and required antiviral medications for control but no systemic therapy.

The Veteran's recurrent sinusitis with nasal obstruction is rated at a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disability are all remanded for further development. The sinusitis and gastrointestinal issues have been remanded as well.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, sinusitis, and respiratory disorders have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has also remanded these issues.,Service connection for a separate right sciatic nerve disorder is denied as there is no separate disability other than the already service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for residual scars from lesion removal and left inguinal hernia repair have been granted. The Veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa, sinusitis, and right nephrolithiasis status post lithotripsy are denied increased ratings. Service connection claims for urinary tract infections and yeast infections remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's sinusitis has been granted an initial compensable disability rating of 30 percent, based on more than seven non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, sinusitis, right and left knee disabilities, and a psychiatric disorder, are found to be sufficient for the Board to grant a TDIU due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected sinusitis was denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran is currently enrolled in school and has not been shown to be unemployable due solely to her service-connected disabilities.