Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The VA has been remanded to obtain necessary documentation regarding the April 15, 2014 cervical spine fusion surgery and determine if any additional disability resulting from this surgery was an unforeseeable event or a known risk of the procedure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis is dismissed. The Board finds that his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinus headaches has no legal merit and denies it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he has not experienced a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyspnea is denied as he has not experienced a clinically diagnosed respiratory condition during the appellate period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher 10 or 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, hypogonadism and deviated septum are related to his service-connected conditions. The claims for increased ratings will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals regarding TBI, PTSD, and sinusitis before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including exposure to asbestos and other chemicals. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement of medical expenses for emergency services provided by Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital and Northwest Acute Care Specialists in Vancouver, Washington on May 27, 2015 due to the Veteran's condition being of such a nature that delay would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address the issues of service connection for various disabilities, as the previous VA examinations did not adequately address certain aspects and the relevant law has changed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vocal cord dysfunction is related to her service-connected rhinitis and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to her service-connected rhinitis.

The Board denied reopening and service connection claims for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to address the etiology of her musculoskeletal pain, cervical spine disability, respiratory conditions, sleep disorder, and gastrointestinal disorders. The issues are currently on appeal.

Service connection is granted for chloracne due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection is denied for umbilical hernia and abdominal pain.,Service connection is denied for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, ruptured lung status post staple correction with hemoptysis, heart disability (claimed as heart palpitations), facial skin cancer, colonic polyps, and hypertension.

The Board finds that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, headaches, fibromyalgia, and neuropsychological symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, asthma, and colorectal cancer (previously claimed as colon cancer), but these claims are remanded due to outstanding medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sinusitis, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for a left hip disability, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain status post fracture are all remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for mixed type headaches prior to April 8, 2019 is denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

Service connection for sinusitis is granted, and a 10 percent rating is assigned.,A 10 percent rating is granted for left eye corneal scarring. The condition does not cause visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has decided to remand several issues for further development, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's representative also mentioned the need for additional development regarding non-service connected pension.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,Chronic sinusitis has been characterized by chronic congestion with tenderness over the frontal sinus and occasional sinus headaches. The Veteran had no incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes in the past 12 months.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 21, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not found to meet criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.