Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, migraine headaches, and a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's osteopenia is remanded for further evaluation. Initial ratings are remanded for the left elbow disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis due to a lack of a VA examination, as these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease. The appeal is also remanded for further development on other issues.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for vision impairment is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for sinusitis is denied as there were no incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes within the past year.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and sinusitis, as the existing opinions are inadequate. The claims will be reconsidered after these addendum opinions are obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his active service.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic acid reflux and remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeal.

The Board has found that another remand is required for VA to fulfill its duty to the Veteran regarding his claims of service connection for sinusitis and bilateral hearing loss. The previous examinations are outdated, and new assessments are needed due to changes in the nature of these conditions since the last examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability. The Veteran was found not to have current disabilities for these conditions, and his low back disability was found to be at worst limited to forward flexion to 35 degrees during the period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. Additional development is needed to address all theories of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating from August 5, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent from August 26, 2021, for allergic rhinitis is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU effective from July 1, 2018, is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's sinusitis is presumed to be due to exposure to particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The Veteran's hemorrhoids, anemia, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension are presumed to be related to exposure to particulate matter during service.,The Veteran's pterygium may be related to exposure to ultraviolet radiation and particulate matter during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is not presumed sound as to these conditions, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether they are related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.,Service connection was established for sinusitis, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's IBS and chronic rhinitis/sinusitis have been granted service connection due to exposure to burn pits during qualifying periods of active duty. The thoracic spine disability, hemorrhoids, and direct service connection for these conditions are still pending.,Further development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and his hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence of chronic sinusitis and noting that the condition was acute only during service. The VA examiner concluded it is less likely than not that the diagnosed acute sinusitis incurred in or was caused by military duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's statements of symptoms during service are considered credible, and the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and rhinosinusitis. Service connection was denied for left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.