Sinusitis decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for asthma and sinusitis prior to August 10, 2022 as these claims have been fully granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that both conditions are secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis and PTSD respectively.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for chronic sinusitis, but no higher. The Veteran's condition is characterized by three to six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for sinusitis is denied.,A 10 percent rating for hypertension is granted, subject to the law and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,An initial compensable rating for sinusitis is denied.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from January 30, 2018.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for sinusitis and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for TBI are denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected maxillary, ethmoid, and pansinusitis (sinus disability) is granted a 50 percent rating effective May 13, 2016. The Veteran's initial rating for allergic rhinitis is granted a 30 percent rating effective August 26, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, cellulitis, and bilateral tinea pedis as there is no credible evidence showing these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as she has maintained employment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and back conditions, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 9, 2018.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities from March 19, 2015 to July 19, 2018. The effective date for this award is March 19, 2015.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis has been granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is related to military service, including exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to her military service.,The Veteran's carpal tunnel in the bilateral hands is related to her military service.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a left little finger amputation due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims have been granted in full.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether current migraines are related to service, and thus grants service connection on a direct basis.

Service connection for sinusitis and left knee disability is granted. Service connection for sinusitis is granted under the PACT Act, while service connection for a left knee disability is granted based on in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected physical and mental disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 18, 2019.

The Veteran's sinusitis and loss of sense of smell are granted service connection. The remaining issues, including those related to psychiatric disorders, sleep disturbances, left shoulder condition, right ankle condition, low back condition, and knee condition, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 21, 2018 for service connection for chronic maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinusitis and non-allergic rhinitis and bilateral turbinate hypertrophy, as well as her requests for initial ratings higher than 30 percent for non-allergic rhinitis and bilateral turbinate hypertrophy and higher than 50 percent for chronic maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinusitis. The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for septal deviation.

The Veteran's sinusitis, characterized by headaches, pain, and tenderness of affected sinuses with purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries, has been granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent.