Sinusitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed part-time and earns income above the poverty threshold for one person.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded other claims due to insufficient evidence. The remaining issues are also remanded as new VA examinations are needed.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic pansinusitis, effective April 6, 2012. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with polyposis is separately rated at the maximum of 30 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's right and left shin splints have been granted service connection as they are related to medical findings of bilateral shin splints during his ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma have been granted. The claim for chronic fatigue syndrome has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inability to schedule VA examinations in prison. The appeals for service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and sinusitis are found to have caused his respiratory failure, leading to his death. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for sinusitis, right hip osteoarthritis, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity have been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis, right hip osteoarthritis, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been granted a 50% disability rating, effective from the date of the decision.,For sinusitis prior to April 5, 2021, the Veteran is denied any increase in his current 10% disability rating. From that date forward, he has been granted a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's chronic maxillary sinusitis is rated at a 30 percent rating from September 9, 2019 to December 8, 2019. The appeal was remanded for further development and adjudication of a claim for Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluation for sinusitis is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is denied.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to August 26, 2014, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity for the period beginning August 26, 2014, are denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to August 26, 2014, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity for the period beginning August 26, 2014, are denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to September 7, 2021, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, are denied.,A 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, and a 40 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity for the period beginning September 7, 2021, are granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches prior to July 22, 2013, is denied. A rating in excess of 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches for the period beginning July 22, 2013, is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rhinitis, claimed as a respiratory disorder, is granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for rhinitis prior to June 1, 2022, and more than a 10 percent rating thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's sinusitis claim with a higher rating after June 28, 2016, is also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinea pedis, allergic rhinosinusitis, back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder (including a rash on the legs and buttocks), and hypertension due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, L4-5 degenerative anterolisthesis, and L1 compression fracture residuals are granted as service connected. The Veteran's sinus disability (including sinusitis) and folliculitis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The VA will attempt to obtain all outstanding service treatment records, clarify the dates of National Guard service, and provide a comprehensive examination to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's sinusitis is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was incurred during service or due to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and whether it is aggravated by the latter.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. The claims for sinusitis and right knee disability are remanded.

Service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis is denied. Service connection for rhinitis due to Gulf War exposures is granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims were remanded for additional development regarding his kidney disorder and hypertension.