Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to February 20, 2013 for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea associated with sinusitis. The effective date remains at February 20, 2013.

The Veteran's service connection claim for IgA deficiency disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's mucus retention cyst of the right maxillary cavity with sinusitis may be related to his service-connected IgA deficiency disorder, and thus remands for a secondary service connection determination.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and remanded the remaining issues related to knee disabilities.

The Board granted higher ratings for several conditions, including PTSD, right hip disability, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, BPH, right elbow disability, right hallux valgus, left hallux valgus, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran is now eligible for attorney fees based on past due benefits awarded in the August 2014 Board decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a mole on his right leg, memory loss, and various musculoskeletal conditions. The cases are being returned due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's representative withdrew her claim for chronic sinusitis/sinus infections, and the increased rating and secondary service connection claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine, sinusitis, left ankle disability, and left foot disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have hearing loss for VA purposes.,An initial compensable rating of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis from June 30, 2010 to September 18, 2017 was granted.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been confirmed by imaging studies but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there are no incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment or non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include lumbar spine disability, PTSD, rhinitis/sinusitis, a nasal disorder other than rhinitis/sinusitis, and OSA.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple skin lesions/rashes of the arms and legs due to insect bites has been granted.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no current diagnosis or persistent/recurrent symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea with recurrent bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax was denied. His claim for scars on the posterior trunk due to the same condition was also denied. The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 10 percent for frontal sinusitis was granted. Both his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression, and for TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for polymyositis and inflammatory myopathy, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, sinus headaches, DM II, right knee disability, left knee disability, and MDD. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a respiratory condition, including sinusitis. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to his various conditions, including gout, low back issues, knee problems, achilles tendonitis, diabetes, blood pressure disorders, left Achilles condition, heart condition, sinusitis, and GERD. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations and obtain addendum medical opinions regarding his mental health, left Achilles condition, diabetes, sinusitis, blood pressure disorder, and heart disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating for lumbar spine disability and service connection claims for left shoulder, vision problems, sinusitis, muscle spasms, migraine headaches, and ankle sprains. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, sinusitis, and residuals of tonsillectomy, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum is found to have caused his current chronic sinusitis. However, the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and any higher ratings are denied as there is no evidence of more than level II or III hearing in either ear during the relevant periods.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected chronic sinusitis, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis.