Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to one service-connected disability, finding that he was not rendered unemployable based on only one of his service-connected disabilities. The decision is binding only with respect to this specific matter and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.

The Veteran's sinusitis has not been manifested by three or more non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting; there were no incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment. Therefore, a compensable disability rating for sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia has been denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral dry eye syndrome, status post PRK surgery.

Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for migraine headaches prior to February 4, 2021 was denied.,Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for sinusitis prior to February 4, 2021 was denied.,Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral ingrown toenails of the great toes prior to February 4, 2021 was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period of March 1, 2006 to August 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was denied. The rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to September 1, 2022, was denied, but from that date forward, a 20% rating was granted. Service connection for sinusitis is remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to insufficient evidence of incapacitating episodes or chronic osteomyelitis.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as aggravated by service-connected tinnitus. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is granted, but his claim for service connection for pleuritis is denied.

The Veteran's sinusitis has resulted in more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's sinusitis.

The Veteran's IBS, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and unspecified depressive disorder are granted service connection. The Veteran's sinusitis is also granted service connection on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. An increased evaluation of 30 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for deviated septum and chronic sinusitis as secondary to the Veteran's deviated septum. Service connection is denied for allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's deviated septum was caused by a motor vehicle collision during his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for sinusitis and rhinitis with deviated septum prior to December 1, 2020 are denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's Chiari malformation and whether it is related to service. The Veteran also received a separate 10 percent rating for chronic sinusitis, but his claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis remains denied.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis due to the lack of evidence of a current disability during or contemporary to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's dermatitis is remanded as there are unclear issues regarding whether topical treatment is systemic therapy and if medications used are like or similar to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.,The Board has remanded service connection for a neck condition due to an inadequate factual premise in the previous opinions, specifically the lack of documentation of complaints or treatment for a neck condition during military service.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected transient ischemic attack (TIA) and denied all other claims, including those related to left knee disability, hyperlipidemia, vasectomy, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent, as the evidence does not show it meets or approximates the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 0 percent, as he has experienced no incapacitating episodes in the past year and his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral eustachian tube dysfunction and an increased rating of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis. The claim for chronic sinusitis is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and increased ratings, effectively dismissing the appeal.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 26, 2021 for the grant of service connection for sinusitis and denied a compensable disability rating for the condition.