Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions and the cause of death due to potential outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied. A separate 30 percent rating for sinusitis is granted from April 13, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis but denied separate disability ratings for OSA and asthma, and remanded the issues of initial compensable ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinus disability, obstructive sleep apnea secondary to a sinus disability, fibroids with resulting hysterectomy, and initial compensable evaluation for service-connected endometriosis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for sleep apnea and lower extremity radiculopathies. The remand also includes requests for effective date determinations and increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for emphysema, ear problems, and asthma has been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for a head injury, rhinitis, sinusitis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and left knee/leg disability have all been granted or denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for allergic rhinitis and a sleep disorder, both secondary to his service-connected fracture of the nose. The Board has determined that additional opinions are needed.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for sinusitis. His claim is currently pending.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 10 percent to 0 percent for service-connected chronic sinusitis was proper, and denied entitlement to an increased rating prior to February 29, 2016, and a compensable evaluation beginning February 29, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the periods of concern, as he was able to maintain several entry-level jobs.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues of chronic headaches, insomnia, GERD, deviated nasal septum, chronic sinusitis, and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases of sinusitis and headaches for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to unavailability of VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU due to incomplete information, including missing SSA records and an outdated VA examination. The Veteran will need to provide these records and undergo further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as failure to establish a nexus between his conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate, and thus remanding for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, sinus condition (including Sinusitis), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from May 29, 2008 to December 28, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran will need to provide updated VA treatment records, VistA Imaging records, and information regarding his in-service stressors. He will also be provided with VA examinations for his lumbar spine disability, sleep disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and bipolar disorder), nasal polyps, and chronic sinus headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back pain and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 27, 2012. The Board granted TDIU based on the evidence showing his physical and mental limitations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for costochondritis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and hiatal hernia. The new evidence includes VA treatment records from March 2000 to March 2015 that indicate current diagnoses of these conditions.