Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Board found that a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is not warranted and remanded the issues related to left knee strain, unspecified depressive disorder, shin splints, maxillary sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and tinea corporis. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's sinusitis and headaches have been granted service connection. However, the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis with deviated nasal septum, and obstructive sleep apnea as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than noncompensable for the right distal phalanx fracture was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's hypertension, maxillary sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis to determine their current severity. The appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while her claims for right ankle disability, neuro rhinitis, sinusitis, and COPD are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board has determined that a supplemental VA opinion is needed to address the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to service or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis with history of right frontal headaches should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by the sinusitis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claims for initial ratings for chronic maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis (sinusitis) and asthma. The decision is based on the need for additional VA examinations and records review.

The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to August 24, 2011 for service connection of left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied.,The Veteran's requests for an effective date prior to August 24, 2011 for service connection of sinusitis and rhinitis were denied.,The Veteran's request for an effective date prior to August 24, 2011 for service connection of right knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including coronary artery disease/congestive heart failure, nasopharyngeal cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, eye disability, balance/vestibular disorder, sinusitis, and depressive disorder. The case will be returned after further development.

The Veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis have been evaluated as 10% and 30% disabling, respectively. The Board denied higher initial evaluations for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including scheduling a VA examination for sinusitis and issuing a Statement of the Case for issues related to higher initial disability ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the upper respiratory disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Veteran's assertions need to be evaluated in conjunction with the medical records provided.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for sinusitis, GERD, and a higher rating than 30 percent for sarcoidosis with pulmonary/sinonasal involvement are being remanded due to the need for additional evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disorder and sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia, cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded as his prostatitis may be related to his current prostate disability. Additional development is needed regarding whether he has any residual disability from the prostatitis shown in service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic gastritis with GERD, and hemorrhoids are being remanded as his most recent examinations in August 2017 were inadequate. Additional development is needed to determine the current functional impairment resulting from these disabilities.,

The Veteran's varicose veins, arthritis of the right knee, and septoplasty residuals with rhinitis are granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a 10 percent rating for his septoplasty residuals with rhinitis from December 1, 1974 to June 5, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address relevant evidence of record. The Veteran's sinus condition is related to active duty service.