Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vasomotor rhinitis and a back condition due to exposure to toxic chemicals and ground water contamination at McClellan Air Force Base (AFB) and Warren AFB. The Veteran is also asked if he wishes to continue his appeal for a back disability.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for headaches and dizziness with blackouts is denied.,The appeals seeking to reopen claims of service connection for bronchitis and COPD are granted. The de novo review of these claims is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,An initial 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis is granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches are remanded due to lack of recent examination.,The Veteran’s skin disorder (squamous cell carcinoma) is presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the relationship with his claimed lichen planus-like keratosis remains unclear. Cervical spine disorder secondary to lumbar spine disability is also remanded for further evaluation.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent from May 7, 2012, for lumbosacral Strain (claimed as low back strain) is remanded.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder condition and remanded the claim for sinusitis. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific matters decided.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his service-connected sinusitis is denied.,The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis prior to June 17, 2015. However, the RO found that this evaluation was in error and assigned a non-compensable rating for the period before June 17, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and sinusitis disabilities. The knee disability claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

Prior to November 22, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,Since November 22, 2017, the Veteran has a combined rating of 80 percent for his service-connected disabilities and is rated at 100 percent for kidney cancer. His TDIU claim is denied as he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an increased rating for left elbow disability and maxillary sinusitis.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection. The rating for hidradenitis suppurativa and erythema nodosum remains denied, as the condition did not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids. The rating for multiple scars from August 25, 2011 to April 24, 2013 is granted at 40 percent. Other issues are either remanded or have not been addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if his current headache condition is related to service-connected disabilities. Other claims are also remanded for increased ratings and TDIU determination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a nasal fracture and sinusitis. The Veteran's service treatment records were destroyed, making it difficult to determine if he had a nasal fracture during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis status post submucous resection was denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes requiring treatment.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was denied because the VA Form 21-8940 was not completed and submitted.

The Veteran's awards for service connection for various knee and shoulder conditions, as well as sinusitis, were granted with an effective date of August 12, 2011. The Veteran appealed the effective dates.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and cervical spine fracture of the C1 and C2 vertebrae as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The head injury residuals issue is remanded.,Further investigation and evidence are needed regarding the Veteran's head injury residuals, including whether they are related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of concussion/traumatic brain injury is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has residual symptoms from his in-service concussion/TBI, including headaches and dizziness.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis is remanded due to incomplete records. The Board notes that it is unclear whether the Veteran’s reported symptoms are related to his service-connected rhino-septoplasty or a separate disability.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and hypertension, finding that the current conditions did not have their onset during active duty or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and an upper respiratory disability, including rhinitis or sinusitis, due to incomplete information and need for further examination.