Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, as well as chronic sinusitis, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their severity prior to October 13, 2016. The Veteran is also requested to provide additional evidence related to his sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury with memory loss and stuttering, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sinusitis as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo further examinations.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches was granted a 30 percent rating from December 15, 2010 to October 2, 2012. The initial ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis with headaches prior to this period were denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 11, 2009 for the awards of a TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since at least February 11, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder and TDIU prior to February 29, 2016. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for allergic rhinitis, sinus disability, left knee and ankle disabilities, foot disabilities, cold injury residuals of the feet, and eye disabilities. The cases are being returned for further development.

The appeal for service connection for headaches has been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for Meniere’s disease has been dismissed.,Service connection for an upper respiratory disorder, diagnosed as chronic rhinosinusitis, is granted.

The Veteran's sinusitis and migraine headaches are granted with initial ratings, but the rating for allergic rhinitis is denied. The Veteran's migraine headaches require a remand to obtain updated evidence.

The Veteran's maxillary frontal sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are rated at a 10 percent disability level, reflecting the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the issues of service connection for sinusitis and fibrocystic breast disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis prior to December 19, 2013 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and skin disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has granted a staged initial rating of 50 percent for sinusitis from September 6, 2017. Prior to March 13, 2013, the Veteran's sinusitis was rated at 10 percent and from March 13, 2013 through September 5, 2017, it was rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a compensable rating based on audiometric findings.,For his lumbar spine traumatic arthritis (back condition), the Veteran’s current disability picture does not meet or approximate the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain additional information regarding the severity of his back condition.,The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been considered, but no compensable rating can be assigned as it did not recur or metastasize since treatment in 2010 and he does not have any residuals from the condition.,Regarding the skin condition, a compensable rating is denied as there is insufficient information to determine if the Veteran's current disability picture warrants such a rating. The Board finds that remand is necessary for further evaluation.,The allergic rhinitis/sinusitis claim was also remanded due to insufficient information regarding its severity and impact on the Veteran’s daily life.,Regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, the Veteran's current disability picture does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain additional information regarding this condition.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and/or rhinitis, sleep apnea as secondary to sinusitis and/or rhinitis, and a compensable initial disability rating for dermatitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and weight gain, as well as the aggravation of weight gain by these conditions. The Board also needs to determine if the current sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by the service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's chronic lower back condition and sinusitis are granted service connection. The Veteran's joint pain of the bilateral hands and elbows, as well as his GERD, are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete sleep apnea examination, requiring a new evaluation and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active duty service or his service-connected sinusitis.