Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected elevated left hemidiaphragm and sinusitis have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and sinusitis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal of his increased rating for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis was dismissed. His petition to reopen a claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted, and he is entitled to a 30% rating for migraines prior to February 4, 2015. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right foot conditions, deviated nasal septum and chronic sinusitis, acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD), and service connection for a right wrist disability due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for sinusitis was dismissed. Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder were granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's seizure disability and major depressive disorder are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 70% rating for his major depressive disorder prior to July 15, 2015. He also receives TDIU benefits prior to that date.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for allergic rhinitis with deviated septum and remanded the issue of service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for separate ratings for his deviated septum disfigurement is not addressed as it was not raised in this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for sinusitis due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was granted as his statements and VA examination findings supported a finding that he had experienced tinnitus since service. For the sinusitis claim, the Board found an error in not addressing the theory of entitlement based on herbicide exposure.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for memory loss and lack of concentration due to his withdrawal request. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for recurrent bilateral eye corneal erosion syndrome prior to September 23, 2013 and a 60 percent rating thereafter. The March 2014 decision assigning a 30 percent rating for sinusitis with migraine headaches is found not to have been clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for sinusitis with hypertrophic rhinitis remains February 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between her claimed conditions and her active service, as well as her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for chronic rhinitis and a separate rating of 50 percent for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms include recurring nasal polyps and near continuous sinusitis requiring multiple procedures to manage his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a nasal mucus membrane condition, including chronic sinusitis and rhinitis. The VA examiner is to provide an opinion on whether any diagnosed conditions became manifest during service or within one year of separation, were caused or aggravated by active service exposure, and if in-service treatment caused or aggravated the condition.

The appeal for service connection for a dental disability, degenerative disc disease of the spine, PTSD, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.,Service connection for obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and rhinosinusitis is granted.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea is granted at a 50% rating, effective from the date of service connection. The Veteran's tension headaches are granted an initial 30% rating as of September 25, 2014. No other conditions have been granted or denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further development. The issues include PTSD, depression, hypertension, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, right hand chemical burn, left knee injury, right tennis elbow and arm pain, bilateral shoulder pain, contusion to the neck, and residuals of a left ankle injury.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis but has remanded the issue of service connection for deviated nasal septum due to outstanding STRs and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and evidence regarding whether the Veteran's respiratory disability, including chronic sinusitis, is related to his service exposure to Agent Orange.