Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis under the PACT Act, OSA as secondary to rhinitis, and a 70 percent rating for depressive disorder secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder and a compensable rating for migraine headaches were denied.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for rhinitis to obtain an adequate VA opinion regarding its relationship to toxic exposure during active service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's hiatal hernia, reflux disease, with diverticulosis and remanded claims for a compensable rating for sinusitis and service connection for vertigo.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, a condition presumed to be related to the Veteran's service in Afghanistan.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for a left lower leg scar, as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus, sinusitis, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of chronic sinusitis and psychiatric disability, both secondary to sinusitis.

All claims for service connection and increased disability ratings have been withdrawn by the appellant, thus they are dismissed.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for migraine headaches and remanded several other claims, including those for service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, an initial compensable disability rating for rhinitis, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for reactive airway disease. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, functional abdominal pain syndrome, and headaches were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, headaches, left knee MCL strain with limitation of flexion, and left knee MCL strain with bracing post-surgery, but granted service connection for CFS, left leg RLS, and a 10 percent rating for scar, left lower extremity knee. The effective date for the 70 percent rating for PTSD and the 30 percent ratings for headaches, OSA, and scar, left lower extremity knee were also granted from April 26, 2013.

The Board granted service connection for chronic rhinitis under the PACT Act, presumptively linking it to in-service exposure to burn pits and other toxins during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board remands the case to adjudicate an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for allergic rhinitis, as this issue is inextricably intertwined with the higher initial rating claim.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome, 10 percent for chronic sinusitis, 50 percent for tension headaches, and 30 percent for left shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Board granted a disability evaluation of 30 percent for the Veteran's headaches, but denied service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and right lower extremity nerve disabilities. The claims for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, tinnitus, and hearing loss were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches, to include migraines, and chronic rhinitis, as well as a compensable disability rating for sinusitis and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic brain injury and sinusitis, but granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis with hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates effective February 1, 2025. The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis as the evidence did not support one or two incapacitating episodes of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, restless leg syndrome, and migraines but granted a 20 percent rating for undiagnosed illness with symptoms of joint ache and fatigue. Service connection was also denied for chronic sinusitis.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.