Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis, characterized by near constant headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinuses, and crusting after repeated surgeries, is granted a maximum initial rating of 50 percent from September 1, 2016.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis due to Gulf War environmental hazards and for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypothyroidism, sinusitis, and chondromalacia of the right knee are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has found insufficient medical evidence of record to determine the severity of the Veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis throughout the entire appeal period. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for rhinitis, a compensable disability rating prior to February 28, 2021, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, for sinusitis, and entitlement to TDIU are REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent disabled for a service-connected left knee disorder, service connection for sinusitis, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinus disability is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's eye disorder, including astigmatism and/or eye blurriness, is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is granted due to exposure during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current sinus condition is related to service or his service-connected bilateral eye trachoma.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current disability levels.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis and sinusitis, finding that the evidence does not support a showing of chronicity in-service or continuity after separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis/rhinitis and headaches due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's symptoms are believed to be related to her service, but further examination is needed to clarify the nature of her conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis on a secondary basis. The case is remanded for further development regarding the bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension and GERD are not rated higher than the current 10 percent levels.,Chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 50 percent prior to April 30, 2019, but denied for a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection and rating for sinusitis, residuals from tonsillectomy, hypertension, and idiopathic fasciitis, left lower extremity. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of left knee injury, tinnitus, and bilateral shin splints. The Veteran's claim for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee strain was granted with an effective date of March 3, 2005. The appeal for service connection for sinusitis is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for rhinitis.

Service connection for sinusitis is granted due to exposure during the Persian Gulf War, as provided by the PACT Act. The claim was initially denied but now stands granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea, which is a condition that may be related to service-connected upper respiratory infection. The examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea began during service or is otherwise causally related to it.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are being remanded due to new VA treatment records suggesting a worsening of symptoms, and the last examination was more than five years ago.