Sinusitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 10 percent, and he was granted a 30 percent rating for his service-connected rhinitis. The Board found that the Veteran had diagnoses of both sinusitis and rhinitis with overlapping symptoms but separately rated him under Diagnostic Code 6522 for rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal with the grant of a combined 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for rhinitis was dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.,The effective date prior to June 24, 2015, for the grant of service connection for other specified phobia disorder is denied because new and material evidence did not require readjudication by the AOJ.

The Board has denied service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. Service connection for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and remands for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's allergic rhinitis pre-existed service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines and total abdominal hysterectomy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on the severity of her migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic sinusitis is denied as the highest available rating (50%) has been granted and there are no other applicable diagnostic codes under which this disability may be rated.

Your service-connected sinusitis and associated hoarseness have rendered you unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 21, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, tonsilitis, right ankle condition, bilateral pes planus, left shin splints, and right shin splints/tendonitis due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service exposure to chemicals and his ongoing symptoms.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for various service-connected disabilities, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the original rating decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, gastritis, left and right knee disabilities, sinusitis with headaches, left foot scar, and adjustment disorder with anxiety are not supported by evidence of a current disability. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sinusitis was denied. The claims for increased ratings of IBS, allergic rhinitis, left eye erosion syndrome with residual corneal abrasion, and lumbosacral strain with DJD and IVDS were also denied. The Veteran's radiculopathy conditions (right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, left upper extremity) were rated at 20 percent prior to May 29, 2013, but not higher after that date. His cervical spine conditions and thoracic spine surgical scar were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for recurrent maxillary sinusitis with headaches is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2022 VA examination. The examiner did not consider symptoms from the period before September 2012, and there are no updated VA treatment records covering this time frame.

The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are presumed to be related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis, loss of teeth, and neck disability as secondary to service-connected residuals of fractured mandible and maxilla. Sinusitis and headaches are remanded due to insufficient etiology opinions.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from Sutter Coast Hospital. The Veteran is required to provide consent forms and VA will attempt to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and chronic sinusitis are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for sinusitis prior to September 19, 2017 was denied as the evidence did not show more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis. For the period on and after September 19, 2017, a rating in excess of 50 percent is denied because it represents the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6513.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including a nasal endoscopy and medical opinions regarding secondary disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disability. The claims for sinusitis and deviated nasal septum have been denied, while the claim for allergic rhinitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.