Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions and denied service connection for several additional conditions, including tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, left sciatic radicular pain of the left leg, traumatic brain injury (TBI), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, and a back disorder.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for asthma. The issues of service connection for chronic rhinitis and vertigo, claimed as dizziness, are remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and remanded the increased rating claims for bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, presumptively due to exposure to fine, particulate matter during the Veteran's qualifying service in Southwest Asia.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a cervical spine disability, a bilateral ankle disability, a bilateral knee disability, and a bilateral shoulder disability as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or medical nexus to active service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of a 30 percent rating for asthma and a 10 percent rating for rhinitis, as the evidence did not establish that these conditions met the criteria for higher ratings prior to May 8, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for agoraphobia, left hip tendinopathy, and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was also granted a 50% rating for tension headaches.

The Board granted the restoration of the 10 percent rating for maxillary and frontal sinusitis and rhinitis, effective November 1, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and tinnitus, while denying service connection for various other conditions including acne, right wrist disability, back disability, neck disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, migraines headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, sleep apnea, and hearing loss.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, service connection for various conditions, and higher initial disability ratings.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for GERD and hearing loss, right ear, but denied service connection for lumbar spine pain, radicular pain and paresthesia of the lower extremities, allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, functional abdominal pain syndrome, restless leg syndrome, tremors of the hands, respiratory insufficiency, chronic headaches, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, unspecified anxiety disorder, seborrheic dermatitis, and denied increased ratings for left shoulder disability, myalgia, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, right shoulder disability, kidney stones, plantar fasciitis, lung disability, actinic keratosis, and squamous cell carcinoma. The Board remanded service connection claims for several conditions.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for allergic rhinitis.

The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable evaluation of maxillary sinusitis to afford the Veteran an adequate VA medical examination, as required by Ingram v. Collins.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent from April 2, 2015, and in excess of 0 percent from December 3, 2020, for sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for right hand little finger healed fracture and bilateral foot pes planus, while denying service connection for various other conditions including sinusitis, headaches, and sciatica. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for asthma.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and an initial 10 percent rating for a headache disability, while denying ratings in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability and any compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. Service connection was granted for tinnitus and bilateral foot disabilities but denied for other conditions.