Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy alone rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, qualifying for TDIU. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC based on housebound status due to multiple separate disabilities rated at 60 percent or more.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence received since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for updated treatment records. The issues include bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, a bilateral hand neurological condition, sinusitis, and a skin condition.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine from May 18, 2014, to April 26, 2016, is not rated higher than 40 percent.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of osteomyelitis or repeated radical surgeries.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a sinus disability, diabetes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal conditions have been granted based on chronic wear and tear in service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not established for VA purposes.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder tendonitis, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, a right ear hearing loss disability, back disability, left elbow disability, and left rib injury. Service connection is granted on de novo review.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was granted service connection. The right hip degenerative joint disease and related issues were denied with some evaluations being remanded.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for a nasal disorder was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to evidence showing the condition existed prior to service entrance, not aggravated by service, and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis was denied as there were no incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or characterized by headaches, pain and purulent discharge in the past year.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and sinusitis as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, with the exception of a confirmed diagnosis of allergic rhinitis/chronic sinusitis in one private evaluation. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to her service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, headaches, and sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis was also denied.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is not granted as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that they are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back disability and allergic diathesis, to include a sinus condition have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of these claims by his authorized representative.

The Board dismissed the appeal for sinusitis and granted service connection for thyroid disorder.

The Veteran's frontal sinusitis is rated as chronic based on imaging studies only, with no current symptoms or episodes requiring treatment. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the lack of a nexus opinion in the VA examination report.,Service connection has been granted for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and GERD remains denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for vasomotor rhinitis, service connection for right ankle disorder, and service connection for sinusitis disorder are not fully addressed due to new VA-generated evidence. The case is being sent back to the AOJ for review of this additional information.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for instability, but the initial ratings for other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for sinusitis is dismissed as the maximum schedular rating has been granted.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for sarcoidosis with pulmonary involvement is denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to lack of cor pulmonale or cardiac involvement.