Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted service connection. However, the initial ratings for asthma, migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, and GERD are being remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis is granted. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on the PACT Act, but the issue of service connection for chronic sinusitis prior to August 10, 2022 (the effective date of the PACT Act) remains remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma with chronic bronchitis and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 13, 2022.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sinusitis is granted, but has remanded other issues due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to his service-connected asthma, is being remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic maxillary sinusitis remains pending and will be addressed after the requested examination.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for onychomycosis of bilateral feet is also pending and will be addressed after the requested examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including gastrointestinal, skin, sinusitis, rhinitis, headache, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete medical opinions in the November 2022 VA examination reports. The issues are being returned for further clarification of the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis, left shoulder disability, and lower back disability have been granted. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for sinusitis and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service are not considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include secondary service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and anosmia related to his deviated septum disability; as well as a separate issue of transient vision loss related to his headaches.

GERD has been dismissed as the RO granted a new claim for GERD in June 2023, which was not part of the original appeal.,Service connection for scars on the bilateral eyebrows is granted. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding his injury during service is considered credible.

The Board has denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before final adjudication of the remaining claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic sinusitis were denied. For bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating was granted as of June 14, 2022, and a higher rating was granted as of June 7, 2023. Service connection for chronic sinusitis was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for acne vulgaris and alopecia have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for bronchitis, gastrointestinal condition (to include gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome), and sinusitis.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his service, as the evidence does not support a finding that they began during service or are otherwise linked to an in-service injury or disease.,Bilateral hearing loss is not shown to have had its onset during service or within one year of separation from active duty. The Veteran did not report any hearing issues during service and there is no evidence of noise exposure related to his military duties.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether preexisting conditions were aggravated by service or related to service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected sinusitis, but the claims for deviated nasal septum and bronchitis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 10% rating, but no higher.,The Veteran's migraines are denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability.,Service connection for TBI is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sinusitis, and rhinitis are all granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis due to the absence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection is remanded for right knee and left elbow disabilities as there are insufficient opinions addressing their relationship to service or service-connected conditions.