Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis to include as secondary to emphysema for a new medical opinion addressing secondary service connection, including aggravation.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis due to the lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's condition was caused by in-service exposure to particulate matter in Iraq and Kuwait.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis under the PACT Act, presuming exposure to burn pits during deployment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or additional service-connected disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis to schedule an examination and obtain a medical opinion, as new evidence has been submitted after the AOJ's decision.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the 10 percent disability evaluation for allergic rhinitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as it was not factually ascertainable that a worsening in these conditions occurred within one year of the December 26, 2023 intent to file.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on a presumptive basis due to exposure to fine particulate matter during active service in Southwest Asia. The Board also granted increased ratings of 30 percent, and no higher, for headaches, thoracolumbar spine strain, right rotator cuff tendonitis, and left rotator cuff tendonitis from December 13, 2021.

The appeal for service connection for an anxiety disorder was dismissed, and the appeals for service connection for Parkinson's disease, a respiratory condition (COPD), a heart disability (coronary artery disease), rhinitis, diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), constrictive bronchiolitis, gastrointestinal disability other than IBS, and an increased rating for asthma.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and eczema as there is no credible, competent medical evidence establishing any relationship between these disabilities and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and sinusitis as there was no current disability at the time of the claim.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for non-allergic rhinitis and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted a 30% disability rating for tension headaches and remanded claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and remanded the remaining claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining updated toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memoranda and adequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's conceded in-service exposure to fine particulate matter.

The veteran's appeal requests were not timely filed, and good cause was not shown to accept the late filings.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for service connection for chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis under the PACT Act.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities and a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.