Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist strain, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, gynecological disorder (including dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia), plantar fasciitis of the right foot, residuals of a right ankle strain, retinal degeneration, and onychomycosis of the toes. The other conditions were either denied or not addressed in terms of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis due to exposure to oil fumes and trash smoke during his military service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records from his last deployment and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is new evidence sufficient to reopen several service connection claims, including for severe headaches, auditory hallucinations, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic sinusitis, and other conditions. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development of his records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's diagnosed sinusitis disability began during active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis, vision loss, and persistent diplopia resulting from endoscopic sinus surgery by VA on August 14, 2007 are proximately due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disability, insomnia, and initial rating for service-connected sinusitis have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during a hearing.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to a need for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, allergic rhinitis, right shoulder strain, and chronic sinusitis are granted. However, the claims for right shoulder disability and chronic sinusitis need to be remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis with a deviated septum due to new evidence suggesting possible exposure to ionizing radiation during active duty, which may be related to his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and deviated nasal septum were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected, but an additional VA examination is needed to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected cardiomyopathy with coronary artery disease or sinusitis.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, granted service connection for sleep apnea, but remanded the claim for GERD due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses of sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea are related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. Specifically, they need to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, review new evidence submitted since the last statement of the case, and consider any relevant VA examinations.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, and traumatic brain injury (with residuals of loss of sense of taste and smell) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.,The Board also denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, concluding that there was no evidence of chronicity of care from service.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues regarding cervical strain, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis has been dismissed due to a withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining claims for pes planus (left foot), pes planus (right foot), and bilateral tinea pedis are remanded.

The Veteran's foot disorder, tinnitus, sinusitis, and headaches (migraines) are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a 10% rating for his scar related to the removal of a cyst near the right ear.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of facial trauma, to include a deviated nasal septum, are found to have caused or significantly contributed to the development of his current sleep apnea. The claim for sinusitis as secondary to residuals of facial trauma is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, respiratory disorder, sleep disturbances, GERD, headaches, and testicular pain are denied. The decision also includes remand items.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected traumatic deviated nasal septum status post septoplasty. The Board also found in equipoise regarding the relationship between sinusitis and the service-connected condition.