Sinusitis decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an upper back disability and remanded other claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's rhinitis/sinusitis is granted as presumptively related to his active duty service in Afghanistan. The claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for tinea pedis, athlete's foot, arthritis, eczema, chronic sinusitis, and lumbar spine lordosis with thoracic spine degenerative disc disease were dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of these issues prior to their decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for chronic sinusitis has been granted with a 10% rating, effective from the date of the claim.,A separate 10% rating is granted for vertigo. The combined disability evaluation now includes both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The remaining claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been granted due to qualifying service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability. The issue of service connection for jaw pain was withdrawn by the Veteran, resulting in its dismissal. The issues of increased ratings for right thumb fracture residuals and residual scar of the left medial lower lip are remanded. Service connection for gastrointestinal condition (including ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis, diverticulosis, and diverticulitis) and headaches is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, left ankle, sinusitis, and rhinitis disabilities. Additionally, new examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot, CFS, and bilateral hearing disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine and a respiratory condition (rhinitis and sinusitis) are granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis and sarcoidosis due to incomplete development of her claims, including obtaining relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, but the claims for prostatitis, chronic sinusitis, and OSA are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The issues of earlier effective date for erectile dysfunction, restoration of a higher disability rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and residuals of TBI, separate compensable disability rating for residuals of TBI after August 4, 2021, initial compensable rating for migraines associated with TBI prior to July 21, 2021, initial compensable rating for migraines associated with TBI since July 21, 2021, and a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss are all remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The claims for external hemorrhoids, eczema, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral ingrown toenails, and left knee anterior patellofemoral syndrome are remanded as there is evidence suggesting worsening symptoms since previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for glaucoma and an upper respiratory disability, including as secondary to retained metallic foreign bodies in the right eye and right side of the face or shell fragment wound of the forehead. The Veteran's glaucoma is being evaluated based on its relationship to his service-connected retained foreign body in the right eye, while the upper respiratory disability claims are also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relation to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, finding that the condition was not related to service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's PTSD, migraines, chronic allergies, sinusitis, and GERD have been granted initial disability ratings. The Veteran is now in receipt of a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective August 20, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, and sinus cancer are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or direct causation.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, or TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis or any other claimed conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for denying a compensable rating for left maxillary sinusitis with Caldwell-Luc procedure. The Veteran's last VA examination was conducted in May 2019, and another examination is needed to assess his current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 21, 2016 to April 26, 2021. From April 26, 2021, the issue of entitlement to TDIU is moot as he is already in receipt of a combined schedular evaluation of 100 percent.