Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The reduction of the disability rating for service-connected asthma from 60 percent to 30 percent, effective April 29, 2016, was not proper and is restored. The reduction of the disability rating for service-connected chronic sinusitis from 30 percent to noncompensable, effective April 29, 2016, was also not proper and is restored.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum and granted an effective date of July 30, 2012 for sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines, finding that they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis. The decision is based on medical evidence showing a causal relationship between the Veteran's current migraines and his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU prior to November 12, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include hypertension, tinnitus, headaches, radiating pain in legs, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension, sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, and a right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic low back pain and denied the claims for allergic rhinitis, respiratory disability, and sinusitis due to exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's chronic low back pain is related to his military service, but his preexisting allergic rhinitis was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to work. The issues include seeking higher ratings for chronic pansinusitis, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss; determining whether he has service connection for Meniere’s disease; and considering entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma is claimed to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, but a VA examiner found no causal link. The Board has ordered a new examination and opinion to address this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations, and his increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis will be referred to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disorder, and urethral stenosis.,These conditions are presumed to be related to service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of rhinosinusitis is denied as the grant was based on a reopened claim after a final disallowance, and the earliest possible effective date is July 19, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that Gilbert's syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gout of the bilateral ankles, feet, and toes, arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain, plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (left foot), plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (right foot), allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease with diverticulitis, and sebaceous cyst were not service connected or warranted increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 0 percent for his perennial allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, gout, rhinitis, acne vulgaris and PFB, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection is December 10, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's nasal disorder and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is denied.,Service connection for Raynaud's disease as secondary to fibromyalgia is not granted.,Service connection for chronic rhinitis is not granted.,Service connection for neuropathy, right upper extremity as secondary to fibromyalgia is not granted.,Service connection for neuropathy, left upper extremity as secondary to fibromyalgia is not granted.,Service connection for neuropathy, right lower extremity as secondary to fibromyalgia is not granted.,Service connection for neuropathy, left lower extremity as secondary to fibromyalgia is not granted.,The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is presumed related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected, and remanded for further development. The appeals for right hand, left hand, and sinusitis disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis was denied, and his request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis due to further development being required.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to outstanding private treatment records, updated VA records, and a need for additional examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine. The issues include rating sinusitis, erectile dysfunction, painful bowel function, and degenerative disc disease.