Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to PTSD. A new examination is required for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left little toe disability, lumbar spine disability, and allergic rhinitis. The evidence supports a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, infertility, GERD, a right shoulder condition, a hip condition, a headache condition, and chronic sinusitis have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for his left knee condition.

The Veteran's sinusitis is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected condition and determine the frequency of incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection, with the Board resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.,For tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing more than 20% body or exposed area affected.,The Veteran's low back disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, erectile dysfunction, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all remanded for further development as VA examinations may be necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,Chronic sinusitis and headaches have been remanded due to lack of evidence showing current disability or in-service event.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is due to his service-connected sinusitis and PTSD, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to those already service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lupus, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, fibromyalgia, hypertension, and kidney disease. The Veteran's claims were not granted on a presumptive basis due to the lack of association between lupus and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the nature and severity of the Veteran's sinusitis/rhinitis over the entire claim period from June 22, 2004, to the present.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis, rhinitis, and tinnitus.,Presumptive service connection is granted for rhinitis due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability related to service, and the need for an examination to address his self-reported history.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for several issues, including initial compensable rating for atopic dermatitis and service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder and moderate alcohol use disorder, sleep disturbances, chronic headaches, keratitis/corneal ulcer, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, enlarged cervical right side submandibular lymph node, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and muscle and joint pain (unspecified).

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted.,Service connection for post-concussive headaches was granted, but service connection for peripheral neuropathy of any extremity or sleep condition was not established.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD, service connection for a nasal injury, and service connection for sinusitis. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of right shoulder and right hand disabilities have been dismissed.,The reduction of the 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis from June 2016 to noncompensable effective January 1, 2019 was not proper.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for chronic maxillary sinusitis was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating. The condition is manifested by at worst, 7 or more non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year characterized by purulent discharge.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety and mood swings, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis and rhinitis, right eye cataracts, left eye cataracts, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Board found no in-service psychological injury or event leading to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling, effective from August 28, 2018. Prior to this date, the Veteran was denied a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis was not rated compensably, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding service connection for a respiratory condition and a neck condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis, finding that the current sleep apnea disability was aggravated by this condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right wrist disability and left wrist disability due to insufficient development in the prior VA examination.,Additional medical evidence is needed to determine if these disabilities are related to service.