Sinusitis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,Service connection has not been established for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, right foot plantar fasciitis, and sinusitis. The Veteran's right knee strain is found to be related to service, while her right foot plantar fasciitis and sinusitis are not. A remand is ordered for a VA examination of the Veteran's allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The RO should request the Veteran's in-service clinical records, verify his periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, and obtain VA medical opinions to address whether his current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left foot bone sprain, residuals of a left foot ganglion cyst removal, depressive disorder other than PTSD, low back disorder, sinusitis, radiating right lower extremity pain, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), and migraine headaches have all been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 26, 2016 for the assignment of a 30 percent disability rating for chronic sinusitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disabilities and bilateral tinea pedis are remanded due to incomplete information.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for his low back disability, right knee disability, and sinusitis as he withdrew these claims through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's nasal and sinus disability claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hearing loss and the evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss began during or is related to service.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis was granted based on presumed exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia, as part of the PACT Act.

Service connection is granted for migraine headaches and pes planus. The Veteran's sinusitis, anxiety, chest pains, neck disability, radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, and residuals of a head injury/ TBI are being remanded for further development.,The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the claims of service connection for sinusitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety), chest pains, neck disability, radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, and residuals of a head injury/ TBI.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis but has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability, to include sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, eye disorder, throat disorder, and allergic rhinitis or sinusitis due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sinus condition due to Gulf War exposures, bilateral foot disability (fibromatosis and plantar fascitis), and throat disability (post-surgical removal of vocal cord polyps).,There is no evidence of pre-existing conditions or aggravation during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for headaches should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for direct service connection for sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis are granted. The claim for presumptive service connection for allergic rhinitis is also granted, but the effective date cannot be earlier than August 5, 2021 due to a change in regulations. The claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 50 percent rating of sinusitis is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to her ITF, and thus, she is not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and federal medical records, as well as new examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and an initial compensable rating for sinusitis due to new evidence and testimony presented during the September 2023 hearing. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current psychiatric symptoms, which he attributes to an in-service parachute accident. For the sinusitis claim, the Veteran reports worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, skin disability, and TDIU prior to September 15, 2017 due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The VA is instructed to obtain additional evidence and provide another examination.

The Veteran's sinusitis, right shoulder strain, left bicipital tendonitis, and thoracolumbar strain have been granted initial ratings. Right leg radiculopathy service connection has been denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and some other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service.