Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and lumbar spine arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including nasal deviation, right great toe disorder, heart disorder, gastritis, and sinusitis. The Board also denied service connection for radiculopathy in the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right ankle scar is denied as there is no diagnosed current disability.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for status-post traumatic deviated nasal septum is denied due to the lack of evidence showing less than 50 percent obstruction on both sides.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed sinus disability, sleep disability, low back disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The VA is required to provide a new examination or opinion if it finds that the current evidence of record is inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2019. The Board found that the RO assigned the correct effective date of August 7, 2019, as it is factually ascertainable.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic sinusitis, COPD, and GERD due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining medical opinions prior to the July 2019 decision on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sinusitis and bronchitis for further development as there is insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her periods of active duty and their relation to her claimed conditions. The issues are related to left foot bunion, esophageal reflux, TMJ disorder, sinusitis, headaches, and dizziness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's sinusitis/rhinitis claim will be reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions: left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, generalized anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, tremors (initially claimed as stroke residuals), sinusitis, respiratory disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and right hip disability are all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and her military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner's opinions on the causes of migraines and tremors were inadequate. The examiner did not address the Veteran’s lay statements about symptoms during and since active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities. The claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and chronic sinusitis are dismissed as the AOJ has not issued a final rating decision regarding these issues.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was not rated higher than noncompensable prior to November 26, 2018. Beginning on that date and continuing through December 2, 2019, a 10% rating is granted for the condition.,From December 2, 2019 onwards, no compensable disability rating is assigned for chronic sinusitis.,For his chronic rhinitis with deviated septum, a noncompensable rating was maintained prior to September 24, 2019. Beginning on that date, the condition does not warrant any higher than a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic rhinosinusitis. The appeal is granted in this limited scope.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left calf disability, sinusitis, left hip strain, right hip strain, chronic airway dysfunction, tension headaches, dermatitis with rosacea, left thigh strain, costochondritis, and a 10 percent evaluation for multiple noncompensable disabilities. The remand requires obtaining VA treatment records from March 2015 to the present and private healthcare provider records.

The Board has denied service connection for left limb disability and sinusitis, but has remanded the issue of service connection for right elbow lateral epicondylitis due to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Board also remanded for further development regarding service connection for other conditions.