Sinusitis decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU. The Board has also referred his claim for a higher rating for chronic sinusitis to the Under Secretary for Benefits due to its severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and total disability due to individual unemployability. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the current condition to service, and that the Veteran did not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for sinusitis since January 16, 2020. The claim of service connection for chest pain and TDIU is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis clearly pre-existed service, but did not worsen during service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings for low back disability and chronic sinusitis due to insufficient medical evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is able to secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite her conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral knee disabilities, and right ankle disability due to insufficient reasons and bases. The claim for eye disabilities is also remanded with specific inquiries regarding etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to his service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis due to errors in determining whether the condition pre-existed service and was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence received after the August 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The claim for service connection for residuals of nose and throat surgery to include sinusitis has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hand disability, low back disability, chronic sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims of service connection for the low back disability, chronic sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of a higher initial rating for sinusitis maxillary and TDIU due to new evidence indicating that the condition has worsened since the last examination in September 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left foot disability was dismissed as she requested to withdraw her appeal. The Board also remanded cases for respiratory, right foot, and upper back or neck disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals of these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 12, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the criteria of being precluded from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the claims of service connection for osteoporosis, an initial compensable rating from September 29, 2012 to February 3, 2013 and an increased rating higher than 100 percent from February 4, 2013 and continuing thereafter for systemic lupus erythematosus, an initial rating higher than 10 percent from September 29, 2012 to September 15, 2020 for left hip fracture status-post closed reduction and fixation of a nondisplaced femoral neck stress fracture, and an initial compensable rating from September 29, 2012 to September 15, 2020 and an increased rating higher than 50 percent from September 16, 2020 and continuing thereafter for sinusitis with nasal polyposis.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the sinusitis evaluation, and the Court remanded it due to new evidence from a CT scan. The case is being sent back for further proceedings to determine if this new evidence constitutes new and material.

Service connection is granted for Major Depressive Disorder, OSA, CAD, and Hypertension as secondary to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's low back disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, sinusitis, and thyroid disease are not currently service connected.