Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if he is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental disability and whether his skin disability of the face and chronic sinusitis are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have separate service-connected conditions for depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, back disorder, neck disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or headaches. The claims are denied as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression rendered her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and she is considered disabled by the Social Security Administration due to her service-connected psychiatric disabilities. TDIU and DEA are granted from August 25, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected major depressive disorder with associated anxiety and insomnia is granted, effective February 17, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is granted, effective July 15, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for sinusitis is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 9, 2010, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for his service-connected low back disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, as his last VA examinations were conducted in 2010 and 2011. The nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities are unclear from the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar strain and sinusitis. The issues on appeal include claims for increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, bilateral prepatellar bursitis, allergic rhinitis, left ankle lateral malleolus area tendonitis, and sinusitis, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities warrant an extra-schedular disability rating, as the current schedular ratings do not adequately contemplate the collective impact of his conditions.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is caused by his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for a sinus disability, finding that the Veteran's sinusitis is not related to service or caused by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's sinusitis is not service-connected.,PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since November 13, 2012. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent prior to that date and found the evidence does not support a rating higher than 70 percent from that point forward.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA records and arranging for a medical examination to determine the etiology of tinnitus and the severity of sinusitis with headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are attributable to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. Service connection for chemical sensitivities, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disorder, IBS, and low back disorder are granted on a presumptive basis due to Gulf War exposure. Other service connection claims remain pending.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at a maximum of 50 percent since January 11, 2006. The Veteran's migraines are currently rated at 30 percent and do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee), patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee), major depressive disorder, hallux valgus of the feet, and irritable bowel syndrome are all rated at their maximum schedular ratings.

The Board has determined that the RO's denial of service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma, bronchitis, COPD, sinusitis, and rhinitis, was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Veteran's current respiratory disabilities are presumed to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was rated at 10 percent prior to January 10, 2012 and denied for a higher rating thereafter. The evidence did not show more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis in a year or incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for all four conditions.,Tinnitus was found to be at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during service.