Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, is not service-connected.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asthma or any other respiratory condition that can be linked to service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for coronary artery disease and migraine headaches, both secondary to service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his bilateral foot disabilities, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis due to new evidence submitted after the most recent Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's PTSD, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, bladder cancer, prostate hypertrophy, and calculus of the left ureter are all remanded for further development.,Additional medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the respiratory condition. The claims for service connection, TDIU, and SMP are now pending.

The reduction of the evaluation for pansinusitis from 50 percent to noncompensable was improper due to inadequate evidence showing improvement.,The reduction of the evaluation for bronchiectasis from 30 percent to 10 percent was also improper as there is no clear indication that her condition improved.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding various disability ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of these issues during a hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the cases of sinusitis and hearing loss for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his painful left wrist scar, residual scars of the right knee, and other disabilities are denied. The Board finds that new examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.,The Veteran’s claims for increased ratings are REMANDED as there is insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his right wrist, left wrist, back, right knee, left ankle, allergic rhinitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, upper respiratory disorder (including sinusitis, allergies, and rhinitis), headaches as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and vertigo as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence or incomplete examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is not rated higher than noncompensable due to the lack of evidence showing greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The Veteran's claim for headaches was granted in May 2014 with an effective date of December 16, 2013. The Board found that the earlier claim for sinusitis precluded a separate grant of service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation of why higher ratings were denied and for obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's sinusitis symptoms, including nosebleeds, need further examination and opinion regarding medication effects.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and a need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding the Veteran's claimed sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected sinusitis, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of November 28, 2018 for a rating of 30 percent for maxillary sinusitis (including allergic rhinitis), but not greater. The claimant was previously rated at 50% prior to this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, previously claimed as sinusitis. Service connection was denied for sinusitis due to lack of a current diagnosis and the absence of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a rating in excess of 30 percent for GERD, with IBS as of January 27 2012 are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the calendar year 2017 for a back brace is granted due to wear and tear on his clothes caused by using a back brace.