Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from February 25, 2006 to July 22, 2008 rendered him unemployable due to his headaches and sinusitis.

The Veteran is not entitled to a temporary total disability rating for a period of convalescence due to sinusitis from September 1, 2008 to December 9, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right eye disability, but found that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The RO reduced the Veteran's right knee chondritis of the patella rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2008. The reduction was proper as there was no material improvement in the condition that had been maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's chronic frontal sinusitis has resulted in near constant symptoms including headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinuses, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries. The Board finds the Veteran's disability picture more closely approximates to the criteria for a 50 percent rating throughout the appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on all issues, including the ones related to hyperuricemia, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, chest palpitations, status post nasal fracture, sinusitis, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and internal hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current sinus disability and therefore, service connection for sinusitis with headaches is denied.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU since November 17, 2011 and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied because he did not have a current diagnosis of the condition. The claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to May 17, 2006, but not before January 1, 1996, is also denied as the Veteran had been working until December 1995 and therefore was not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a sinus disability and granted it. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the Board found that his conditions did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and he did not meet the criteria for service connection on any of the other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for sinusitis and its relationship to sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew the remaining claims for service connection for residuals of a neck injury, residuals of a low back injury, sinusitis and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including an opinion on the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right third and fourth metatarsal fractures do not warrant a compensable rating. The issues regarding allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, low back strain with pain, gastritis/GERD, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and left first metatarsal/toe condition are denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current sinus conditions. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records from Lake City VA medical center in Florida.