Sinusitis decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of secondary service connection for vertigo, which may be related to the Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum and other conditions. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current vertigo is caused by or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot plantar fascitis, left foot plantar fascitis, sciatica, rhinitis, sinusitis, and headaches as the evidence does not support a current disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence to support or suggest that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death in any way.

The Veteran's tinnitus, deviated septum, sleep apnea, hypertension, GERD, sinusitis, and asthma have been granted service connection.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for forehead scar is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and sleep and mood disorders is denied. The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for right and left fallen arches and heel pain, right and left plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, sinusitis, and acid reflux (GERD).

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective September 1, 2010. The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various conditions and claims of secondary service connection. The decision also notes that there are outstanding VA treatment records which need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sinusitis due to incomplete development and lack of a recent SSOC addressing all newly received evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% before September 11, 2019 and at 70% since then. The initial rating for chronic rhinosinusitis prior to March 13, 2019 is denied. A 30% disability rating is granted for chronic rhinosinusitis from March 13, 2019.,The Veteran's urticaria was rated at 10% before May 26, 2015 and a higher rating of 30% is granted since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper respiratory disorder (other than vasomotor rhinitis) to include as secondary to a bilateral hearing loss disability and/or tinnitus, finding that there was no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or other upper respiratory disability, other than vasomotor rhinitis.

The Veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis have been remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions since separation from active duty in October 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 29, 2020. She is also found unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for migraines, as they are claimed to be secondary to service-connected sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and/or generalized anxiety disorder and persistent depressive disorder. The Veteran's representative provided additional medical literature which must be considered by the examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, irritable colon syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and sinusitis has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is sufficient to reopen these claims and establish a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to obtain relevant private treatment records. Service connection is denied for bilateral eye condition, headaches, and upper respiratory condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals regarding the issues of higher initial disability ratings for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, dyshidrosis of the hands and feet, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis on the basis of both limitation of flexion and limitation of pronation (and any relevant effective date questions).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sinus disability and allergic rhinitis. The case needs further development for a proper determination of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for an initial compensable rating for otitis externa was denied, as the evidence did not show frequent and prolonged treatment. The claim for anemia from August 27, 2009 to December 8, 2018 was granted but denied since December 9, 2018. Service connection for myalgia and myositis, sinusitis, vaginitis candida albicans, and migraine headaches were all denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an updated vocational evaluation considering recent changes in the Veteran's disability picture and overall employment situation.