Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis have been granted, with the decision being based on new evidence (PACT Act).

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the claims for psoriasis, shingles, and keratosis due to insufficient evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's assertions regarding exposure to tainted water in Bahrain are noted, but additional opinions addressing these specific exposures are needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sinusitis, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy (secondary to hypertension) have been granted. However, the claim for sinusitis is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is granted due to presumed exposure during the Gulf War. Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, hypertension, sinusitis, and upper respiratory infections were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective date for the award of service connection for PFB was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision, requiring a new examination and review of the Veteran's sinusitis condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, BPPV, athlete's foot, IBS, and sinusitis. The claim for a compensable rating for ED was also denied.,No new evidence or changes in regulations were considered in this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and sinusitis due to conflicting medical findings. The other conditions have been denied as not meeting VA disability criteria.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for chronic frontal and maxillary sinusitis was granted, but with a noncompensable evaluation prior to January 24, 2022. From January 24, 2022 onwards, the Veteran is denied a compensable rating.,The Veteran's appeal also included a request for a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence following surgery. This request was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and pansinusitis (sinus disability), and found that his sinus disability is rated appropriately at 50 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and the earlier effective date claim for allergic rhinitis. The denial is based on a lack of current diagnosis of sinusitis, and the effective date for the grant of service connection for allergic rhinitis is set at August 5, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and sinusitis due to the lack of a current diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria and the absence of chronicity, respectively. The appellant's symptoms were not supported by medical evidence.

Service connection for allergic rhinitis has been granted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis due to duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of records from his National Guard service and private treatment records. The AOJ is required to obtain these records and provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for additional evidence. The matter is being returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's condition resulted in more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. The appeal is based on a direct service connection without any presumption.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and denied service connection for hypertension. The erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back and joint disabilities. Service connection for sinusitis is established based on direct evidence of a current disability during military service. Service connection for hypertension was denied due to insufficient evidence linking in-service elevated blood pressure readings to current hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected sinusitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis was also denied, as his symptoms did not warrant such a rating based on the provided evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for sinusitis associated with Gulf War exposure is denied. The Board found that the appropriate effective date was August 5, 2021.