Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability and sleep apnea, finding that there is no clear evidence of continuity of symptoms since service and insufficient medical nexus to establish a link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis, including as due to Gulf War exposure, is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of aggravation in service and concluded that the condition did not increase beyond its natural progression.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for sinusitis, plantar fasciitis, and rhinitis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service treatment records show diagnoses of allergic rhinitis during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with service connection for loss of teeth, sinusitis, and acid reflux. The decision is not about accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the reduction of his disability rating.,Service connection is still pending for digestive problems, headaches, and blurred vision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to December 1, 2015. The Board found that the evidence was not in 'approximate balance' or 'nearly equal' with the evidence supporting his claim.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent meningioma, right knee disability, and left knee disability as they were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's military service. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the conditions to in-service exposure to chemicals or other factors.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the frequency and severity of the Veteran's sinusitis episodes, as well as his need for antibiotic treatment.

The Board has determined that an additional remand is necessary to clarify the Veteran's current condition and its relation to her service-connected conditions.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 6513.

The Veteran's sinusitis and upper respiratory/breathing conditions, including allergic rhinitis and bronchitis, are granted. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions remain pending as remanded due to insufficient examination and new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cataracts, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, multiple muscle and joint disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea are granted due to exposure to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service in the Gulf War.

The Board has decided the claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, back disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of chronic sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of chronic osteomyelitis or near constant sinusitis with purulent discharge. For the back and right shoulder disabilities, the Board has found that additional development is needed due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, sinusitis, and headaches due to additional development being needed.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a sinus disability and an initial compensable rating for peptic ulcer disease due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, rhinitis, eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bladder disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and skin rash disorder have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not currently rated, and his sinusitis has been granted a 30% rating effective April 4, 2022. His allergic rhinitis remains unassigned.,Service connection for various joint disorders of the hands, feet, elbows, shoulders, ankles, and toes is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and maxillary sinusitis, as secondary to service-connected multiple sclerosis due to insufficient medical opinions addressing aggravation.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, which provides a presumption of exposure and subsequent disability.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in Guam.,The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, which provides a presumption of exposure and subsequent disability.,Service connection for a skin disorder (claimed as arthritis of the left knee) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 26, 2009. The Board finds the evidence is in balance regarding this issue and grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.