Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Veteran is granted eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total service-connected disability affecting both lower extremities, which precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, dismissed one claim, and remanded several others.

The appeal of the reduction in disability rating for chronic ethmoid sinusitis was dismissed due to a concurrent election of review options.

The Board remands the claims for a higher initial rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for tension headaches due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to an impermissible concurrent election of higher-level review and Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial increased (compensable) rating for allergic rhinitis as there was no evidence of a greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, nor any polyps.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of April 1, 2024, for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but denied earlier effective dates for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities as well as allergic rhinitis.

The appeal for an increased rating for asthma was dismissed due to untimeliness, while the claim for service connection for sinusitis is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis, finding no evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and higher initial ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, migraine headaches, thoracic strain, cervical strain, allergic rhinitis, hemorrhoids, right hand index finger residuals, right wrist residuals, and peripheral neurological involvement.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis and service connection for a respiratory condition.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for sinusitis based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and treatment records.

The appeal for a compensable rating for the deformity of the right little finger was denied, and several service connection claims were remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis before the Board promulgated a decision.

The veteran and his representative requested the withdrawal of the appeal, and the Board has dismissed all issues.

The Board granted service connection for lower back pain, claimed as a back condition, and the claim for allergic rhinitis, claimed as a sinus condition from August 10, 2022, was granted on a presumptive basis. The claim for allergic rhinitis prior to August 10, 2022, is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis as the evidence did not show sufficient obstruction of nasal passages to warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the earliest possible effective date was August 1, 2022, based on the Veteran's intent to file a claim.