Sinusitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his sinusitis and residuals of nose fracture.

The Board denied service connection for an upper respiratory disability, including sinusitis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a hiatal hernia and remanded the claims for gastrointestinal disability (including gastroenteritis, GERD) and breathing problems (allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis).

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disorder and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's otolaryngological disorders. The decision on the skin disorder is that it is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The evidence submitted since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of left ear hearing loss, and thus the application to reopen this claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and fibroids with a resulting hysterectomy. The Veteran's claims were not granted as her conditions are not related to service.,Service connection was denied because the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were caused or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left index and middle finger scarring was denied. Separate ratings were granted for painful scars of the left middle finger prior to January 21, 2020, and a noncompensable rating thereafter.,An increased rating for DDD of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inconsistency in the VA examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory, sinus, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence or lack of clear rationale in the previous VA examination. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Migraine Headaches and Chronic Sinusitis were reduced, but the Board found that there was no actual improvement in their conditions. As a result, the ratings were restored to their previous levels.,The Veteran’s Migraine Headaches rating was restored from 30% to 30%, effective January 31, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the frequency of his sinusitis episodes, which affects the current severity assessment.

The Board dismissed all claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, scars, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD) and spinal stenosis status-post lumbar discectomy, rhinitis and sinusitis, right knee disorder, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, cervical disorder, right foot/toes disorder, left foot/toes disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, right hand/fingers disorder, left hand/fingers disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a sinus disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service upper respiratory infections and there is no positive medical nexus opinion.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sciatica, back disability, right hip and knee disabilities, cold injury residuals, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder of the feet, fibromyalgia, stroke with left-side balance impairment, headaches (migraines), degenerative bone disease, heart disability, muscle pain and soreness, and a left eye disability. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral hand, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disorders are being remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its current severity.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (including IBS and ulcer) is being remanded for a VA examination to address the nature of her condition.,The Veteran's bilateral eye disorder is being remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, a chronic skin rash on the arms, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran's assertions regarding the etiology of his current disorders were not supported by competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% disability rating for sinusitis is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 20 percent for left shoulder torn labrum and rotator cuff tear (previously rated as left rotator cuff strain) prior to March 11, 2014 and beginning June 1, 2014.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted an effective date of February 5, 2017.,The Veteran's pseudo-folliculitis barbae with history of acne keloidalis nuchae (PFB) was granted an effective date of November 29, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the effect of the Veteran's PTSD medications on his sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if he has current diagnoses of sinusitis and emphysema, and whether these conditions are related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, asthma, and a sleep disorder. The claims of service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed.