Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis. The claims for right knee osteoarthritis and right ankle condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar strain, headaches, left ventricular hypertrophy, and sinusitis are not supported by the evidence of record. The appeals have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis resulted in more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting after January 26, 2022. A 30 percent disability rating is granted for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is related to his in-service experiences, including harassment and racism. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The cases of hypertension, sinusitis, and bilateral eye irritation are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and sinusitis, as these matters are inextricably intertwined with his claim of service connection for a skin disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of in-service hospitalization for upper respiratory disease, including sinusitis and nasal congestion, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was rendered unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities for the appellate period prior to March 7, 2022. The appeal is granted.

The appeal for service connection for a deviated septum has been dismissed. The claims for low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), sinusitis, GERD, narcolepsy with cataplexy, eczema, and PFB scars have all been reopened due to new evidence received since the final rating decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected sinusitis with headaches due to outstanding treatment records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's sinusitis, previously rated at 10 percent prior to June 28, 2014, and now rated at 50 percent since that date, is granted. The rating reflects near-constant symptoms after multiple surgeries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and sleep apnea. The left knee, right wrist, erectile dysfunction (ED), and headaches claims are still pending and will be remanded.,Service connection has been established for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of breast cancer, sinusitis (claimed as sinus problems), left knee patellofemoral syndrome (claimed as bilateral knees), and right knee patellofemoral syndrome (claimed as bilateral knees) due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's service periods.

The Veteran's sinusitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and painful joints are related to his military service. The Veteran also has muscle spasms, fibromyositis, a left wrist cyst, and a left hand cyst that are related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions (right and left) and painful joints are related to his exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the claims for sinusitis and allergies as the appellant requested withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding sinusitis. The Veteran's service records show treatment for cold symptoms and acute upper respiratory infections during his active duty, but the VA examiner did not consider this information in their conclusion.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is found to have begun during active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right plantar fasciitis, low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition (coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation), deviated septum, and respiratory condition have all been granted.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis of the spine, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, deviated septum, and a respiratory condition (sinusitis, rhinitis, upper respiratory infection).

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and sinusitis prior to August 18, 2022, and for a rating higher than 30 percent since then have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate staggering from dizziness or incapacitating episodes of sinusitis.