Sinusitis decisions — 2022

The Board denied payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Spokane ENT Clinic on July 24, 2013, for the Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis due to lack of pre-authorization and failure to meet emergency treatment criteria.

The Veteran's sinusitis is characterized by near constant symptoms including headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinuses, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries. A 50 percent rating for chronic sinusitis prior to November 29, 2019 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and cruris have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for BPPV with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, service connection for sinusitis, and service connection for a heart condition.

The Board denied service connection for gout of the left and right ankles, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, acid reflux, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and hypertension as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinusitis disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no current medical link to his active duty.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed sinusitis and reactive airway disease, as these conditions have not been adequately addressed in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to obtain outstanding medical records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include bilateral shoulder disability, sleep apnea, sinusitis, deviated septum, and bilateral elbow and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis is denied.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD prior to July 7, 2022 is denied.,An evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD beginning July 7, 2022 is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, skin condition of the feet (claimed as athlete's foot), ingrown toenail of the right foot, back condition, and right knee condition. The decision found no current disability for hearing loss or tinnitus that would meet VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and TDIU due to his service-connected asthma. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current sinusitis was related to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted due to herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's sinusitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not substantially contribute to his overall vocational impairment, and he has overcome any impairment of employment due to his extensive work history and education.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory condition, back disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The conditions are deemed to have onset during his deployment in Afghanistan.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and sinusitis are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period from October 1, 2014 to August 14, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus condition and breathing condition), chronic sinusitis (claimed as sinus condition and breathing condition), and depressive disorder with depressive features are all granted service connection due to exposure to fine particulate matter during deployment in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied finality, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's chronic nasal sinusitis warrants a 30 percent rating for the time period on appeal. However, due to new evidence of worsening symptoms and pending VA treatment records, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's chronic sinusitis, including its relationship to service exposure to burn pits in Haiti.

The Veteran's service-connected tension/migraine headaches and sinusitis do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.