Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a throat condition/sinusitis and thyroid condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service injury, event, or disease related to these conditions.,The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran’s current thyroid condition and his service-connected jaw fractures.

The Veteran's right knee meniscus condition is granted a 20% rating. Service connection for his chronic headache disability is granted, but service connection for left knee disorder and cervical spine disorder are denied.

The Veteran's headaches alone rendered him unemployable from March 9, 1994 to September 20, 2012. As he also had additional service-connected disabilities that when combined were independently ratable at 60 percent or more, the criteria for entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) were met from March 9, 1994 to September 20, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals, otitis media and externa of the right ear was denied as there is no evidence of suppuration or aural polyps.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied because there is no evidence that the condition began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA records and arranging an examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's sinusitis disability. The TDIU claim is also on hold due to a lack of response from the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic tonsillitis (claimed as sinusitis), and chronic sinusitis.,There is no current diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis or chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period prior to March 31, 2014 and since March 31, 2014. The decision is based on his service-connected disabilities collectively rated at 60% and 80%, respectively.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and a condition of mucous and membrane swelling around the eyes, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection on a secondary basis cannot be granted because the primary disability (sinusitis) has been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for pharyngitis with symptoms of sinusitis, rhinorrhea, and cough. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination for his left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a respiratory disorder due to exposure in Southwest Asia, as it is unclear if the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran’s respiratory disorder and whether it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's Disease, entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, and entitlement to TDIU prior to March 7, 2018. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include low back condition, bilateral knee conditions, sleep apnea, sinusitis, and deviated septum disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, upper respiratory disorder (sinusitis), and headache disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a supplemental opinion regarding the upper respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for sinusitis was denied, and his service connection claims for gastrointestinal disorder and neck disorder (secondary to back disability) were both granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have not been fully developed and requires additional development before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been rated based on their respective diagnostic codes, with the sinusitis receiving a separate rating effective from March 21, 2010.,However, the case is being remanded due to issues related to hypertension prior to December 21, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for deviated nasal septum as residuals of a broken nose and maxillary sinusitis because these conditions have already been granted in a May 2020 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headaches, finding that they are secondary to his service-connected acute/intermittent sinusitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, transient cerebral ischemic attack, and sinusitis are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. However, the claim for coronary artery disease is denied as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure.