Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and sinusitis due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must attempt to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of service (November 1957 to August 1970) and the latter part of his second period of service (December 1978 to May 1986).

The Veteran's appeal of the decreased evaluation of allergic rhinitis and his initial compensable rating for maxillary and frontal sinusitis has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected allergies/chronic sinusitis. The Veteran needs to provide VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's left and right wrist disabilities, OSA, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their in-service onset and the competent and credible statements made by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, sleep apnea, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for low back strain due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of compensable rating for hypertension, service connection for TBI, dry eye syndrome and nuclear cataracts, sinusitis, gastroenteritis, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis was caused by toxic exposures during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The Board has granted an effective date of June 6, 2015 for his award of service connection.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for asthma, secondary to a service-connected disability (allergic rhinitis), is also granted.,Chronic sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for balance/vestibular disorder, sinusitis (due to nasopharyngeal cancer), and eye disability (bilateral open angle glaucoma and bilateral nuclear cataracts).,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of functional impairment.

The Board has denied a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the cases of left shoulder rotator cuff tear, lumbar arthritis, sinusitis, and deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's claims are now pending again due to incomplete medical examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding that it is related to active duty service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of his pending claims and appeals, including those related to bronchitis, dermatitis, tremors, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee strain, low back strain, multiple scars on the left side of body, sinusitis with headaches, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity sciatic nerve, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and they were granted service connection for all the disabilities pending in this appeal.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis and asthma, which are already established. The Board finds that the evidence supports this relationship.

Service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis is granted due to presumed exposure to fine, particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theatre of operations.,Service connection for a neck disability is denied as there is no evidence that it began during or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ulcers, migraines, mouth sores, body sores, fibromyalgia, chest pain, fatigue, joint pain and swelling, sinusitis (claimed as nose bleeds), shortness of breath, hemoptysis (coughing blood), hypertension, and memory loss. These issues are intertwined with the referred claim for service connection for Wegener's disease.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding entitlement to a compensable rating for migraine headaches, service connection for a sleep disorder, radiating pain in the right lower extremity, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, ganglion cyst of the left foot, depression, left foot bone sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeals are dismissed due to improper use of an outdated appeal form.

Service connection is granted for psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression.,Service connection is granted for right shoulder impingement syndrome due to aggravation during service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and URI. The heart disorder claim is remanded.