Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the claims of left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, and back disability as secondary to bilateral pes planus due to inadequate medical opinions in the February 2020 VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for limitation of motion of the left ankle and sinusitis due to a lack of current diagnosed disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% from November 9, 2018 to March 8, 2019. The rating for PTSD is denied.,Ratings for left and right wrist degenerative arthritis were both denied as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lung cancer and COPD are granted service connection due to exposure to toxic substances in service. Hypertension is also granted service connection based on the same exposure. Service connection for sinusitis, acid reflux, constipation (IBS), and PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for compensable ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and sinusitis have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding the claims of hypertension, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis), internal hemorrhoids, left leg shortening, and status post vasectomy with transient acute epididymitis.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at a 10 percent evaluation from September 4, 2019 and at a 30 percent evaluation from December 10, 2019. The Board granted the requested increased ratings based on evidence showing more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and exposure basis issues. The appeals are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was granted with an effective date of March 29, 2018. The Board found that the more accurate effective date is March 29, 2018, as the Veteran continuously pursued the claim and evidence showed he likely suffered from sinusitis prior to September 11, 2019.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression) are remanded.

The appeals for service connection for hypertension and sinusitis are dismissed. The appeal for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied. An initial 30 percent rating is granted for GERD, but the Veteran's tinnitus and allergic rhinitis remain at their current ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and foot/knee disabilities, were denied as there was no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his headache condition was denied as the evidence did not show severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran's appeals for compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis were also denied, with no specific reasoning provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, a chronic disability manifested by diarrhea, asthma, and sinusitis due to lack of current diagnoses. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, diverticulitis, constipation, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's sinusitis, sleep apnea, and migraine disabilities are granted as service-connected.,An increased rating of 70% for the acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis disabilities due to a duty to assist error in obtaining VA treatment records. A VA examination is also required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and migraines, as well as his increased rating claim for chronic sinusitis, are all granted. The Veteran is now rated at 30% for chronic sinusitis since February 28, 2021.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not granted a compensable rating.,For the period from March 23, 2017, to April 27, 2018, the Veteran received a maximum schedular rating for IBS under Diagnostic Code 7319. For the period since April 27, 2018, the Veteran's IBS has been manifested by moderate symptomatology with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance.,The Veteran's sinusitis did not meet criteria for an increased rating as it was not characterized by incapacitating episodes or a history of sinus surgery.,The calluses on the bilateral feet were not painful and collectively measured less than 144 sq. in., thus not meeting criteria for an increased rating.,Right and left knee disabilities have been manifested by findings of limitation of flexion resulting in additional functional loss, but did not meet criteria for a higher rating as they are already at the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's right knee instability was granted an initial 30 percent rating and left knee instability was granted an initial 10 percent rating based on moderate recurrent lateral instability.,Radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent, consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,The Veteran's TMJ disability is related to a service-connected disability and thus granted service connection.,Crohn's Disease was not found to be incurred or aggravated during service.,Respiratory disability and sleep apnea were not found to be incurred or aggravated during service.,Right and left ankle disabilities were not shown in service and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of sinusitis and rhinitis as the Veteran withdrew his requests. The issue of service connection for migraine headaches is considered moot due to a grant of benefits in a subsequent rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.