Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis have been granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate VA examination and duty to assist errors regarding sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis with nasal polyps, presuming it is related to the Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his service in Afghanistan.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraine headaches, PTSD, sinusitis, rhinitis, and mental health disorder as there were no valid rating decisions on appeal.

The appeal for a compensable evaluation for sinusitis was withdrawn by the Veteran and thus dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and thus, service connection is not warranted. For rhinitis/sinusitis, the Board remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset during service or etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied it for sinusitis. Right ear hearing loss is presumed due to in-service noise exposure, while sinusitis is linked to the Veteran's deployment and exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed as they were already addressed in a September 2024 Board decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and headaches to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for chronic sinusitis and remanded the claim for a higher initial rating due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are granted as his conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, specifically exposure to burn pits during his time in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected chronic sinusitis and headaches has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes of sinusitis or characteristic prostrating attacks of headache pain, respectively.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sacroiliac degenerative arthritis, rhinitis, and sinusitis due to exposure to fine particulate matter under the presumptive provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.320.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The condition has worsened and the Board finds that a 30 percent rating more nearly approximates the Veteran's disability picture.

The Board has decided that service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied. The remaining claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis with chronic cough, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, acid reflux with nausea, benign prostatic hyperplasia with voiding dysfunction, kidney stones, cervicalgia, lumbago, sciatica, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral elbow epicondylitis, a left knee condition, and right knee strain are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, toenail fungus, hepatitis C, a left hand/thumb disorder, and right hand disorders. The claim for a right knee disorder is remanded due to the failure of the October 2020 VA examiner to discuss in-service treatment.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including sinusitis and bronchitis (also diagnosed as asthma), is being remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion to address his exposure to burn pits in Korea during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sinusitis has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the Veteran's VA treatment records. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted service connection based on exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, specifically during the Persian Gulf War.