Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The regional office will review this evidence and consider its impact on the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a previous decision being vacated because of an issue with the VA medical opinion regarding whether sleep apnea was aggravated by service-connected sinusitis. The case is now back at the Board for a new VA medical opinion on this question.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in February 2020 is inadequate for adjudication purposes and requires further clarification regarding whether the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of CVID or Sinusitis, as well as their relationship to service. The claim will be remanded for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the award of a 30 percent disability rating for chronic sinusitis and service connection for allergic rhinitis were denied as the increase in disability occurred more than one year prior to his November 28, 2018 claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to incomplete development of the record and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea and found that the effective date for service connection of sinusitis should be September 12, 2016. The combined rating calculation is also addressed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her allergic rhinitis with occasional sinusitis is granted, and she is now receiving a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia, including for a respiratory disability and obstructive sleep apnea. The remand is required because of conflicting opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for a jaw condition. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a jaw condition.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's sinusitis disability, effective October 17, 2019. The decision also addressed an earlier effective date claim and denied it.

The Veteran's skin disorder, CAD, sinus disorder, and vertigo are all remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no evidence linking current symptoms to service. Other claims were also denied, including those for left elbow epicondylitis, right elbow epicondylitis, bilateral arm folliculitis, left shin splints, right shin splints, hypothyroidism, and ear otitis externa.

The Board has found procedural errors and is remanding the case for further action, including issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was diagnosed in service and continues to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include an adjustment disorder with depressive features were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because the evidence did not show a current disability or establish a link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for sinusitis has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for headaches, including as secondary to a service-connected sinusitis condition, is denied. The claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the issues of increased ratings for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's claim for sinusitis was denied due to lack of evidence of chronic sinusitis during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. For his cervical spine disability, the Board found that there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for constipation and circulatory issues were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Her claim for PTSD (with major depressive disorder) was granted with a rating of 70 percent effective February 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis and TDIU due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sinusitis.