Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis were not incurred or aggravated in service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is linked to his in-service symptoms. The issue of service connection for sinusitis was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a link between the Veteran's current sinusitis, bronchitis and low back disability with his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of irritable bowel syndrome, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea were not established as service-connected. The Board found no evidence of in-service onset or connection to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service stressor while deployed in Bosnia, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The Board also found sufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of sinusitis, leading to its grant of service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum (50%) and service connection is granted for sinusitis. The Board finds that both conditions meet the criteria for a grant of benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea, a respiratory condition, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's tinea pedis, sinusitis, and hemorrhoids have been rated as per the criteria set forth in the VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The Board has found that a higher rating is warranted for his hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for sinusitis, status post sinus surgery due to lack of factual ascertainability that her symptoms met the criteria for a 50% disability rating prior to February 27, 2012.

The Veteran's asthma and sinusitis were not found to be related to his military service.,His urinary disorders, including ARF and BPH with incomplete bladder emptying/hydronephrosis, are considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, headache, and sinusitis disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability and dismissed earlier effective date claims based on CUE in prior RO decisions for left knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, and sinusitis disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been granted increased ratings of 10 percent each for the entire appeal period, effective from the dates noted in the decision.

The Veteran's sinusitis resulted in more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of headaches, pain and purulent discharge or crusting from November 6, 1995 to February 24, 2013. From February 25, 2013, the preponderance of evidence is against a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, chronic maxillary sinusitis with chronic adenoiditis, and TBI residuals are all found to have their onset during service and are therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for sinusitis and concluding that there is no link between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sinus disability is related to his service and has assigned a rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and clarification of whether his headaches caused by sinusitis can be distinguished from his service-connected tension headaches. Additionally, missing VA treatment records since October 2014 are requested.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating under DC 6522.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including maxillary sinusitis, headaches, PTSD, fracture of the right zygoma, bilateral hearing loss, and facial sinus injury residuals of the 5th right cranial nerve, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU.