Sinusitis decisions — 2024

Your appeals for earlier effective dates for increased ratings on sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and headaches have been dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not a valid opt-in from an SOC in the legacy system.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted a 20 percent disability rating. The ratings for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are restored to 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of sinusitis and the symptoms are attributed to rhinitis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for MS with dysphasia and constipation is denied as her symptoms do not warrant a higher combined rating.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis, and the claim for this aggravation is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis as of August 10, 2022, under the PACT Act. The claims for sinusitis, left ankle disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to a lack of an opinion on their etiology.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, effective June 8, 2011. This rating reflects more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service.,His obstructive sleep apnea, which he contends started during service and is related to his now service-connected chronic sinusitis, has also been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Service connection was also granted for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and sinusitis.

Service connection for sinusitis is granted. Service connection for neck condition is remanded due to missing STRs and duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as the evidence does not show that his conditions alone preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine condition, right groin strain, obstructive sleep apnea, and sinusitis. The conditions are found to be aggravated by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection is established for these conditions as they arose during active service or are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The effective date of service connection for chronic sinusitis was also denied, with no earlier date being granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis and headaches, finding that these conditions began during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, hepatitis C, and respiratory conditions (including sinusitis) are related to service. However, his bilateral hearing loss and flash burn with chronic watery and corneal scarring (eye condition) require further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for allergies, sinusitis, a bilateral eye disability, neck disability, and left-hand disability during the February 2024 Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that there are not sufficient criteria met to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as nervous condition) has been granted. Service connection for chronic sinusitis is also granted, but the Veteran's prostate cancer and chronic kidney disease claims remain denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 10, 2016 for the award of service connection for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's original claim in April 2012 was limited to asthma and related respiratory conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for depression, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis as there is no probative medical evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for frontal sinusitis, tension headaches, allergic rhinitis, GERD, and IBS are being remanded due to incomplete VA records and the need to determine TERA exposures under the PACT Act.