Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a chronic right elbow disability, an initial compensable evaluation for chronic sinusitis, and an initial compensable evaluation for left inguinal hernia. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis and hypertension have been granted initial ratings. The hearing loss claim has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for tinnitus is also remanded.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis and hypertension due to lack of new and material evidence.

The appeal for service connection of hemorrhoids, heart condition, sinusitis, and urethritis is dismissed. The appeals to reopen claims for low back injury, neurological damage due to a back injury, residuals of head injury, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) are granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to support these claims. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims, rating determinations, and a TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a back condition and sinusitis have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, sinusitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, chest pain, a dental disorder for treatment purposes, and ear disability. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for her service-connected headache disability from January 13, 2015, is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities is also denied.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for GERD and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various eye, sinus, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity, gastrointestinal, and IBS disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between his current respiratory disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's combined disability ratings meet the threshold requirements for a schedular TDIU, and she is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to November 9, 2016, his sinusitis was not compensably rated. For the period after November 9, 2016, a 30 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and related scar are remanded due to lack of STRs and need for an examination to determine etiology.,The Veteran's back condition is remanded as VA needs to provide an opinion on the likely etiology of his current diagnosed back disability, including consideration of in-service duties.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for addendum opinions.,The Veteran's flat feet are remanded because a VA examiner has not addressed whether preexisting flat feet were aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded as the threshold for disability was not met in his previous examination. The issues of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.,The Veteran's right hand middle finger laceration residuals are remanded due to potential missing records from hospitalization during service.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded as the Veteran asserts an increase in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and associated treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected bronchitis and sinusitis, but needs further clarification based on additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's GERD and Sinusitis have been granted service connection on a direct basis, with the Board finding that his current conditions are at least as likely as not related to active duty.