Sinusitis decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's upper respiratory condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back pain, PTSD, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, dermatitis, gall bladder removal, and GERD. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, including sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The decision on these issues is pending further review.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis due to a lack of specific examination addressing in-service exposure. The claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae is also remanded as VA did not consider the Veteran's recent worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, bronchitis, and bilateral otitis media. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by STRs showing treatment during service and private medical opinions linking the conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and strain, sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and cellulitis have been granted service connection. Effective June 29, 2017, the Veteran has also received a 100 percent schedular rating for his major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder.

The Board has decided to recharacterize the Veteran's claim to encompass all currently-diagnosed sinus conditions, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The matter is remanded for obtaining an adequate medical opinion from a VA otolaryngologist regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s sinus conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claims of sinusitis and rhinitis. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his military service, while his sinusitis and rhinitis need further clarification.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected chronic prostatitis and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The right knee, sinusitis with epistaxis (claimed as nose bleeds), environmental allergies, and sinus headaches claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than January 28, 2009 for the award of service connection for right rotator cuff tendonitis with mild acromioclavicular arthritis and for a compensable rating for dyspnea on exertion are denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a pulmonary and/or respiratory disability (other than service-connected sinusitis and dyspnea on exertion) and for a skin disability, to include dermatitis and tinea corporis.

The Board has remanded the cases of gastrointestinal disorder and sinusitis due to incomplete responses in prior VA opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory system condition, back condition and bilateral ankle condition have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis and pulmonary fibrosis due to potential service connection issues, including a possible gas chamber exposure during active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.,The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability ratings for chondromalacia patella syndrome (right knee) and tendonitis (left shoulder), as well as an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines, chronic sinusitis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood have been remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence and examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis as there is no current diagnosed disability of his sinuses, to include but not limited to sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, sleep apnea, and low back disability. The Veteran's left hip disability and right shoulder disability have been denied.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis as it is presumed to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted.,However, the right carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow/back issues are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.,For allergic rhinitis, a higher initial rating is denied prior to January 21, 2020, and from January 21, 2020, a higher rating is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and chronic sinusitis due to additional development being needed, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's sinusitis disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which was denied in a previous decision.