Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis had its onset during service and have continued since, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sinus disorder, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is not related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for dizziness, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis, all of which he contends are secondary to a dental procedure in service. The Board finds that the claims should be remanded for further development.,VA will provide an examination to determine if any current disabilities (dizziness, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis) are related to service, including the tooth removal procedure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service treatment records, as well as arranging for new medical examinations to assess his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and assigned a 50 percent rating for sinusitis since January 1, 2018. The Veteran's initial claim of an increased rating for sinusitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6512.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent from October 1, 2009.,The Veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with nosebleeds is not entitled to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent from July 12, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right frontal maxillary sinusitis with chronic rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the symptoms were adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria and there was no marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization associated with the disability.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, and sinusitis due to new medical evidence from his relocated VA facility. The Veteran will need to undergo further examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, allergies, asthma, COPD, and chronic sinusitis as these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis was manifested by more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year, warranting a 30% rating from October 10, 2010 to October 12, 2016. No higher ratings were granted as there was no evidence of radical surgery or chronic osteomyelitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with chronic kidney disease, nephrolithiasis, maxillary sinusitis, anxiety disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his case.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of left wrist ganglion cyst removal, right wrist ganglion cyst removal, left flat foot with pain, and sinusitis, status post septoplasty has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these claims during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to missing VA and private treatment records. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the issues on appeal can be decided.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for allergies (now claimed as allergic rhinitis) and is remanding the issues regarding hypertension and PTSD for further development.,Further examination and review are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating effective June 14, 2016. He is also entitled to TDIU prior to May 25, 2016.,The Veteran's chronic frontal sinusitis was granted an increased rating to 50 percent effective February 10, 2012.