Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis associated with TERA participation, finding that the conditions clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and were aggravated by an in-service injury.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current sinusitis disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the previous remand directives were not fully complied with and requires a new opinion on whether the Veteran's asthma is aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The case is being returned to the AOJ for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bronchitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis due to an error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and effective dates were dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182, as no good cause was presented.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is secondary to his service-connected sinusitis disability and obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings related to allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as a combined rating for multiple noncompensable disabilities, have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in the previous decision, specifically regarding non-presumptive service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeals of entitlement to increased disability ratings, initial compensable ratings, and initial disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, chronic rhinitis, and headaches. The appeal of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and left thumb scar was also dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis must be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The RO needs to obtain a Gulf War opinion regarding whether the symptoms described by the Veteran represent an undiagnosed illness or Medically Unexplained Multisystem Illness (MUCMI).

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, finding that it is due to in-service hazardous exposures and is presumed related to the Veteran's deployment to Qatar during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis were granted on a presumptive basis from August 5, 2021. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis as there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for chronic sinusitis with headaches is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The remaining issues, including cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, stomach condition (dyspepsia), and migraine headaches are all remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea should be remanded due to a duty to assist error and because of the reasonable possibility that addressing secondary service connection could aid in substantiating his claim.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, effective October 4, 2019. The symptoms include headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied as there is no evidence of greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, nor are there nasal polyps. The Veteran currently has a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue due to obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is less likely than not related to active service.