Sinusitis decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, including evidence of severe headaches and dizziness related to sinusitis with headaches. The Veteran's attorney submitted medical records and lay statements supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been granted. The claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and proctitis, as well as urethritis, have been dismissed. The issue of an increased rating for paroxysmal atrial tachycardia is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, chronic laryngitis, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and sinusitis. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings for residuals of a right hand fourth finger fracture have been granted.,Additional examinations are needed to determine if any of these conditions are secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right knee strain and sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

All initial claims for increased ratings were dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal. The restoration of a 50% rating for major depressive disorder was granted effective December 1, 2015. Earlier effective dates of May 22, 2014 were granted for increased ratings for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for chronic sinusitis is denied as the evidence does not show that at any time during the appeal period did symptoms of his sinusitis result in one or two incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded an initial rating of 30 percent for his migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sinusitis is related to his service. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Board found that the Veteran's current back disabilities are related to an in-service injury and placed on light duty, while finding no evidence of a chronic sinusitis disability beginning during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran did not respond within the required time frame. The claim for service connection for sinusitis is now pending again with the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, chronic sinusitis, and keratosis pilaris, have resulted in total occupational impairment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, but denied service connection for sinusitis and tinnitus. The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to have begun during active service and continue today. Service connection is not established for sinusitis or tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of malaria was denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to service.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied due to lack of a link between the condition and service, with the most probative evidence indicating it is not related to service.,The fungal condition of the bilateral feet was denied because there is no evidence linking it to service.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran did not notice any hearing impairment until after service, and the VA examiner found a less likely than not relationship between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma and residuals of a deviated septum with multiple surgeries (rhinosinusitis, epistaxis, anemia), are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants the TDIU claim based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service and whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected asthma and/or rhinitis.

The Veteran's initial increased disability ratings for panic disorder, headaches, GERD, and sinusitis prior to March 12, 2019 are denied. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's sinusitis was rated at a maximum of 30 percent prior to March 28, 2011 and then increased to 50 percent from March 28, 2011 through November 9, 2011. The bilateral breast fibrocystic condition did not warrant any compensable rating under the old criteria but was remanded for further development.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability remains on appeal and service connection is also denied. A TDIU prior to January 24, 2018 is also remanded.