Sinusitis decisions — 2023

Service connection is granted for sinusitis.,Service connection is denied for a chest disability, manifested by pain and shortness of breath.,Service connection is denied for a left middle finger condition, manifested by pain, stiffness, and deformity.,Service connection is denied for a genitourinary condition, manifested by recurrent balanitis infections, UTIs or hematuria.,Service connection is denied for a right knee condition, to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including GERD and tension headaches, are granted with a 30 percent rating. Service connection is established for allergic rhinitis, maxillary sinusitis (chronic sinusitis), functional abdominal pain syndrome with abdominal pain/bloating, respiratory insufficiency with dyspnea, and restless leg syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle sprain, right knee strain, and sinusitis due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining STRs related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 26, 2010. Effective that date, the Veteran is granted an effective date for his TDIU and eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for rhinitis and a rating in excess of 30 percent for sinusitis are remanded due to the failure to provide a VA examination within two years of his election to proceed via the hearing lane.

The Veteran's IBS, Sinusitis, TMJ, and headaches have been granted service connection.,A separate rating for a painful C-section scar of the anterior trunk has also been granted.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis as it did not originate in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as incurred in service. The cases for pruritus, athlete's foot, PFB, right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), watery eyes, and allergic rhinitis/sinusitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering toxic exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis as there was no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a skin disorder and a higher rating for rhinitis with history of sinusitis is denied. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran met the criteria for a 50% disability rating for his rhinitis, which would have required near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and tenderness of affected sinuses, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis. Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, with no compensable rating assigned. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and right ankle.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, left thumb laceration residuals, and other lower extremity disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims and requests for compensable ratings for his service-connected scars and migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to errors in developing evidence prior to the initial decisions. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and additional information.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his deviated nasal septum is denied as the evidence does not show at least 50 percent obstruction of both nasal passages or complete obstruction on one side.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, as well as increased ratings for his right ankle and chronic bilateral maxillary sinusitis disabilities.,There is no evidence that the Veteran experienced any disability related to his claimed left ankle condition prior to his death.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for a compensable rating for sinusitis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 21, 2015 is denied. The Board also finds that the Veteran's sinusitis and left foot disability claims require further development.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left foot bunion, sinusitis, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (claimed as dizziness) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.