Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection, as the current opinions are not based on accurate factual premises and do not address all relevant theories of causation.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis, residuals of nasal fracture, and deviated nasal septum are all service-connected. The Board granted a 30% rating for chronic sinusitis but denied a compensable rating for the deviated nasal septum.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for glaucoma is dismissed.,The appeal of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis; allergies is dismissed.,The appeal of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is dismissed.,The appeal of entitlement to service connection for kidney removal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's gynecological disorder, anemia, and sinusitis are aggravated by any service-connected disabilities or if they clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions, specifically hyperthyroidism and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for sleep apnea associated with chronic rhinitis with right maxillary antrum sinusitis was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and therefore, restoration of service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal to obtain additional government records, including Social Security disability claim and treatment records.,The reopening of a claim for service connection for low back disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for low back disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and he is granted SMC for aid and attendance from another person.

The Veteran's sinusitis was not productive of three or more incapacitating episodes per year, and no radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis or near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and tenderness of affected sinus were shown. Therefore, the evaluation in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was granted with an effective date of October 8, 2003. The claims for sinusitis and vasomotor rhinitis were denied as there was no prior pending claim or new evidence to warrant earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied as his combined service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for major depressive disorder and sinusitis due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection and rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for an opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death. The Appellant is seeking service connection for cause of death, but there are no private or VA treatment records available. Additionally, verification of in-service herbicide exposure is needed.

The Veteran's defective vision, dry eye syndrome, chronic squamous blepharitis, sinusitis, and allergic or vasomotor rhinitis are not considered to have started during service or be related to service.,A current diagnosis of these conditions is noted but the evidence does not support a finding that they were incurred in service.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also has other service-connected disabilities and her combined rating is less than 60%, so she cannot be granted a TDIU based on these conditions alone.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. The initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction and the effective date prior to March 23, 2015, for PTSD are denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for erectile dysfunction effective from March 23, 2015, based on the date of claim.

The appeal of the Veteran’s claim for service connection for sinusitis is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed sinus disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations in order to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed sinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection and ratings for various disabilities, including back disability, trigeminal neuralgia, sinusitis, and an effective date for service connection. The issues include increased ratings, a separate rating for left trigeminal neuralgia, and an earlier effective date.