Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CFS, sinusitis, rhinitis, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension, and headache disability have been dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.,Petitions to revise previous rating decisions based on CUE were dismissed without prejudice. The effective dates of service connection awards were also dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TB residuals was denied. The Board found no evidence of active TB or TB related symptomatology during the pendency of the appeal. For TDIU, the Veteran met the criteria under 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(a) as he had two or more disabilities with at least one rated at 40 percent or more and sufficient additional disability to bring the combined rating to at least 70 percent. The Veteran is already in receipt of SMC benefits, thus TDIU was not granted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis beginning September 26, 2014. The Veteran's condition was found to meet the criteria for this rating based on more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis was denied, while his claim for a 20 percent rating for plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis throughout the claims period was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis prior to December 8, 2020, and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter is denied. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sinusitis is not related to his active duty service or any in-service injury. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had sinusitis during his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with sinusitis during the pendency of the claim or approximate thereto and he is in receipt of service connection for rhinitis.,The claims for renal cell carcinoma of the bilateral kidneys and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service-connected hypertension.

Service connection is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and recurrent bronchitis with chronic cough and chest pain due to in-service exposure to burn pits.,Service connection is denied for hypotension as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), folliculitis of the chest, back, and arms, or pseudofolliculitis barbae. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied service connection for DMII was granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran should be scheduled for VA examinations and remanded for further development of his claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back pain, left ankle condition, tinea pedis, sinusitis, COPD, and DMII.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 2, 2015, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, pharyngitis, upper respiratory infection, lower back pain/strain, and left thigh pain/strain due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disability, left shoulder disability, left forearm disability, headache disorder, PFB, sinusitis and a disability manifested by indigestion have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year following discharge that could be presumed to have resulted from service.,The Veteran's complaints during service were noted but resolved with treatment. No current disabilities related to these issues were found, and the VA examiner opined that any current symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for adjustment disorder, service connection for sinusitis, and TDIU due to new evidence and inconsistencies in the record.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or an earlier effective date in several areas, including cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability as defined by regulation, and the Board has granted TDIU from February 7, 2011, to November 5, 2020.