Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Board has denied an increased rating for chronic sinusitis and remanded the service connection claim for acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that a new VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for insomnia was denied as his symptoms did not cause occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for sinusitis was also denied. The evidence showed no more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis (also claimed as legs-both, right hip bad, painful), gout, bilateral eye viruses, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, prostate cancer, residuals of asbestos exposure (including sinus and respiratory problems), lung cancer, and sinusitis. However, these claims were denied on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder and sinusitis, including whether they are related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, a respiratory condition (including COPD), and contact dermatitis due to lack of evidence establishing a causal relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC based on housebound due to issues with VA examinations, exposure basis clarification, additional development of records, and income/net worth information. The claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, sinusitis and rhinitis, hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis and GERD, but denied service connection for PUD. A rating of 20 percent is assigned for the Veteran's PUD since September 5, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand directive and the need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are remanded due to the need for additional medical records, social security administration (SSA) records, and VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various disabilities as they are all related to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's glaucoma and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are service-connected.,The Veteran's hypertension, sinusitis, ischemic heart disease, and chloracne are not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, lumbar spine disability, headaches, right ear hearing loss disability, and left ear hearing loss disability due to inadequate opinions in his VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a nasal mucus membrane condition, including chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support his contention of in-service exposure to contaminants or pollution. The preponderance of the evidence was against the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and requires a new medical opinion to address the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and his migraine headaches.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for chronic recurrent sinusitis status post endoscopic ethmoidectomy, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the number of incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including a VA examination for narcolepsy and sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of fractured left tibia was denied, and his TDIU prior to December 3, 2013, was also denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for consideration of TDIU since August 11, 2010.