Sinusitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent effective October 26, 2009. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's right hand condition has been rated as noncompensable since the initial claim in 2009. The Board finds that his condition warrants a compensable disability rating due to functional impairment during flare-ups.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is currently rated at 10 percent effective November 2, 2020. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating prior to February 27, 2020 remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased ratings for PTSD and sinusitis. The Veteran is also requested to provide any outstanding private medical records, including those from Dr. Porsha Jones at Grow Counseling and Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU due to inadequate opinions in the previous remand. The Veteran is asked to provide a new opinion regarding whether his sleep apnea is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or financial assistance for purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment. The Board finds that his disabilities, while significant, do not qualify him for these benefits based on the specific requirements outlined in VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, sinus and migraine headaches, and rhinitis have been granted. The claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion. The rating for asthma remains remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis/sinusitis is related to his service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. However, the Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for depressive disorder due to inadequate examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of authorization for private treatment records from Dr. F., and a need for a new VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been dismissed without prejudice. The Board finds that the Veteran's claims seeking service connection for chronic sinusitis, sleep apnea, uterine fibroids with anemia, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a right hand and thumb disorder must be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to a service-connected condition (rhinitis), but remanded the issue of service connection for sinusitis.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for a disability manifested by weight loss, esophagus stricture, hiatal hernia, and recurrent iritis with superficial keratopathy and dry eye. Additionally, the rating for maxillary sinusitis prior to February 9, 2021, and higher than 30 percent as of that date is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for Meniere's disease, sinusitis/rhinitis, tinnitus, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, GERD, sleep apnea, and wrist disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and lack of consideration of certain factors. The case will be returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of broken nose with rhinitis, sinus, and nosebleeds have been rated at a 30 percent disability rating since March 23, 2021. The appeal is remanded for further consideration regarding the total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a headache disorder, and hypertension due to potential issues with the medical nexus opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities were denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 10% for hypertension was also denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury, chronic headaches, left ear hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, left elbow disability, middle back disability, low back disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysentery, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to incomplete records from his National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), ratings for bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinusitis, hypertension, and diabetic neuropathy due to insufficient medical opinions addressing their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sinusitis, and COPD, finding that his respiratory conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence of asbestos exposure or a link between COPD and active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory conditions, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is remanded. The Board finds that a new examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory conditions.