Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The claims for service connection for a back disability, sinusitis, respiratory disability, and headache disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is manifested by near continuous symptoms requiring multiple procedures to manage the condition, and a rating of 50 percent has been granted.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disorder, cervicalgia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rhinitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, esophageal reflux, and anemia are all found to be related to service. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his bilateral knees and hearing loss, which require further examination and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis and the reduction of the rating for service-connected eczema. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently diagnosed, and there are in-service records indicating it occurred during his military service. For the eczema issue, a new VA examination is needed due to the lack of consideration of flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sinusitis and allergic rhinitis for further development due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in the previous VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his medical history, including any treatment records from private physicians.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. Service connection for persistent depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine condition, lower back condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to pain from her service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's depression, migraine headaches, and thoracolumbar strain with IVDS are all found to be proximately due to her service-connected conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied. Other claims for increased ratings have been decided in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and a dental disability were denied as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the issues of service connection for a right arm condition, left foot condition, breathing disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia is denied as it is not a disability for VA purposes.,Service connection granted for steatosis of the liver (Fatty Liver Disease) as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,Allergic rhinitis and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Upper gastro-intestinal system disorder, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune illnesses, skin disorders, and hyperglycemia are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, gastroesophageal disease (GERD), and sinusitis. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations due to the possibility of worsening of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, sinusitis, respiratory disorders other than sinusitis (including COPD and bronchitis), and peripheral neuropathy will be further evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2015 for service-connected disorders was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely application for benefits prior to his discharge from active duty on May 30, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, back disability, chronic sinusitis, chronic allergies, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), asbestosis, residuals of a circumcision (including erectile dysfunction), and sinusitis are all on appeal.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities for the period prior to September 16, 2015. The Board found that the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities is of sufficient severity to have rendered him unable to obtain and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's sinusitis is being reviewed for potential service connection.