Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, tinnitus, refractive error (claimed as bilateral eye disorder), and dermatitis due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to inadequate medical opinions in the March 2015 remand. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information or evidence, if needed, and VA will attempt to obtain it.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left and right ankle disabilities, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and sinusitis due to new and material evidence. These issues are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as a VA examination opinion was inadequate.

The Board has determined that the evidence is not in favor of granting service connection for chronic sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disability. The claims are therefore remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's Bell’s palsy is granted, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding other service-connected claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis with nasal polyps and deviated nasal septum is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating from July 18, 2012 to October 29, 2018 and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent from October 30, 2018 for service-connected sinusitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to determine if any current respiratory, neck, hip, wrist, hand, or knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development and evidence.,No effective date is assigned as no earlier claim was filed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sinusitis, residuals of a head wound (including TBI and headaches), and intervertebral disc syndrome due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being reviewed on their merits.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis were granted service connection as they had onset during active duty.,PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent prior to December 5, 2016, and increased to 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The issues of secondary service connection for tinnitus, service connection for sinusitis with rhinitis, type II diabetes mellitus, irritable bowel syndrome, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis and sinusitis did not meet criteria for a higher rating, while his residuals of left fifth finger fracture and right hand injury were also denied. Both issues are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The issues include left leg shortening, sinusitis, rhinitis, sarcoidosis, PTSD with depression, IHD status post angioplasty, left ankle talofibular ligament rupture, hyperparathyroidism, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and is being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, and erectile dysfunction are also being remanded.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, and his service-connected recurrent bronchitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6510. The Board found that the evidence did not show an improvement in his ability to function, and restored the 50% rating for chronic sinusitis effective October 24, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims. The Veteran is now entitled to a full review of his claims.