Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and a respiratory disorder to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the April 2024 AOJ decision on appeal.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 10 percent disability rating for sinusitis, as the evidence did not support one or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, nor three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting prior to September 9, 2024.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis effective April 1, 2025, and dismissed the proposal to discontinue DEA.

The Board granted service connection for acute sinusitis under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022, but denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of a valid intent to file prior to May 17, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of sinusitis, as the evidence did not support a claim prior to October 16, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or symptoms attributable to sinusitis during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 10, 2022, for the assignment of an initial 30 percent evaluation of chronic sinusitis was granted, while his request for a higher rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder as secondary to the left knee disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bilateral eye disorder, rhinitis, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, while granting a 30% rating for herpes simplex labialis and service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis and a higher initial rating for right knee meniscal tear, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for recurrent instability of the right knee. The service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and erectile dysfunction were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, but denied service connection for deviated septum and hypertrophied nasal turbinates.

The appeal regarding service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder is dismissed as the disability was granted, and there remains no justiciable case or controversy with respect to this claim.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches and a 50 percent rating for left knee strain, limitation of extension, while denying ratings in excess of 30 percent for TMJ and a compensable rating for alopecia areata. The decision also granted 20 percent ratings for left and right knee strains with limitations on flexion and extension.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic cough syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities, right shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, earlier effective dates for PTSD and non-painful right index finger scar, and a higher rating for painful right index finger scar. However, the Veteran was granted an initial 50 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Board also granted initial ratings of 20%, 30%, and 70% for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, lung condition, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, bilateral plantar fasciitis with bone spurs, left kidney cyst, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, migraine, and chronic allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, but granted service connection for functional dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and bloating. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for rhinitis.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for service-connected rhinitis, effective September 25, 2021.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic sinusitis due to a duty to assist error.