Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Board has found that further development of the evidence is required prior to adjudicating the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1987 onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and chronic sinusitis due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection, as well as a need for new examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the claims file without a waiver of AOJ consideration and is requesting its review. The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle disorders, sinusitis, TBI, tension headaches, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for sinusitis with sleep disturbance and has also granted service connection for sinusitis secondary to rhinitis. The decision is based on new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, specifically the existence of sinusitis.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left knee scar is granted, recurrent sinusitis remains at a 10 percent rating, lumbar spine disorder receives a 40 percent rating, right wrist disorder maintains its 10 percent rating, and the Veteran is awarded an initial 20 percent rating from November 28, 2012 to February 22, 2018 for left knee status post arthroscopy with limited flexion.

The Veteran's hypertension and sinusitis have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for PTSD, post-concussive migraines, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis are remanded.,A new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions and his lumbar spondylosis. The Veteran may also need a VR&E evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected right knee lateral meniscus tear, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), status-post cholecystectomy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, and various other conditions have been denied. The claim for joint pain, right knee condition, status post left leg fracture with pin placement, eye condition, sinusitis, acid reflux, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate, and athlete’s foot has also been denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a prostate disorder, right hip disability, and sinusitis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claims and concluded that the disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been denied.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the previously denied claims for diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, vision disability, hemorrhoids, thyroid disability, laryngitis, tachycardia, migraine, respiratory disorder (bronchial asthma), and a fatty liver and liver cysts have all been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the previously denied claims for gastritis, reflux, duodenitis and/or diverticulitis, hiatal hernia, cervical disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral leg disability, back disability (claimed as radiation of pain to the back and right side of body), left shoulder disability, vesicular disorder of the bilateral leg, gallbladder disability have all been granted due to new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for otitis externa, right ear and sinusitis. Service connection for diabetic retinopathy of the right eye is also granted. The Veteran's claim for a right eye disability other than diabetic retinopathy remains remanded.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings prior to November 19, 2015 for sinusitis, rhinitis, and laryngitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of VA treatment records. The Veteran's difficulty breathing through her nose is being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are inextricably intertwined with her claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, ear fullness with pain, vertigo, bronchitis, and sinus headaches. Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions related to the claimed disabilities and thus, denied these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings are set at March 4, 2016.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for chronic sinusitis prior to June 9, 2017 and in excess of 30 percent from that date are denied. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not rated higher than the current 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

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