Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for memory loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted. The claims are now remanded.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders, left and right ankle disorders, residuals of a head injury (originally claimed as brain tumors), numbness of the left hand and lower arm, and sinusitis have all been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cellulites with abscess behind left ear and neck, bilateral hand disability, right hand pain at digits, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of a current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches is granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective from April 1, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination regarding his service connection claims. Specifically, a VA examination is required to determine if his sinusitis is related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions due to incomplete examinations and lack of entrance examination prior to the Veteran's second period of active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus condition, finding that there was no nexus between his current diagnosis and in-service exposure to asbestos. The evidence did not support the Veteran's contention of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sinusitis is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.,The Board finds insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's left shoulder and hip disorders and his service-connected right knee disability, thus denying secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims for chronic maxillary sinusitis and OSA are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of these conditions during active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and examination of his medical history, including in-service noise exposure, symptomatology, and treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation due to incomplete records and the need for additional nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for other specified trauma and stress related disorder (previously rated as mood disorder) is granted with an effective date of September 1, 2006. The case is remanded for further action on the claims for glaucoma secondary to service-connected disabilities and chronic sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome secondary to fibromyalgia, cognitive defects secondary to fibromyalgia, and sinusitis. The evidence supports the presence of these conditions during or shortly after service.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, left sciatic radiculopathy, reactive airway disease, a right knee baker's cyst, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for eligibility to individual unemployability.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of June 10, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for the service connection of sleep apnea and increased rating for allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis. The GERD case remains denied.

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

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, left ankle sprain residuals, sinusitis, and left ventricular hypertrophy with AV block are all granted as service-connected. The flat feet, allergic rhinitis, shortness of breath, hypertension, and IBS are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions and increased ratings for disabilities. The effective dates of the awards are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for removing R.M. as a dependent spouse, adding M.M. as a dependent spouse, and adding D.M. as a dependent schoolchild over the age of 18.