Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed sinusitis. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and need for a new opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for dental and oral condition, chronic sinusitis, and asthma due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's complete service treatment records were not associated with her claims file prior to the August 2021 rating decision on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing sinus issues were aggravated by service, and whether these issues contributed to his death. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on both theories.

The Veteran's asthma and rhinitis are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Iraq. Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches, maxillary and frontal sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis have been granted increased ratings to 50%, 10%, and 30% respectively for the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection, and his right ear hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome, left wrist condition with ganglion cyst, right foot pes planus, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are denied.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for tinea pedis with onychomycosis, service connection for decompression sickness, acquired psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, cardiac disability, and respiratory disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for decompression sickness, acquired psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, cardiac disability, and respiratory disability are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, sleep apnea, and sinusitis. The Veteran's current knee and ankle disabilities were also not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis on a presumptive basis due to exposure to particulate matter during active service, finding that the condition became manifest within 10 years of separation from active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic sinusitis was dismissed as moot because the claim had already been fully granted with an effective date of October 18, 2021. The claims for GERD and IBS were remanded due to a duty to assist error in scheduling VA examinations. The bilateral hip, ankle, wrist, and shoulder disabilities were also remanded.

Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted beginning August 10, 2022. The claim for service connection for the period before this date is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 3, 2015 for the award of service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed from the Veteran to support his claims for service connection and effective date determinations. The claims are being remanded to allow VA to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, left elbow, right elbow, migraine headaches, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities are all being remanded for further evaluation.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis was not manifested by nasal polyps. His left elbow disability did not more nearly approximate flexion limited to 90 degrees, while his right elbow disability did not more nearly approximate flexion limited to 90 degrees.

The Veteran's rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as there is no evidence of polyps or complete obstruction on either side.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis must be readjudicated, as no new and relevant evidence has been submitted since the previous denial in November 2020. The remaining claims of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine with degenerative arthritis and spinal stenosis, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis due to exposure to fine particulate matter, including from burn pits, during the Veteran's military service in Afghanistan. The condition is presumed under VA regulations and the Veteran had a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis within ten years of his separation from service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denials of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis.