Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, while denying increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, tension headaches, and mitral valve prolapse.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022 for the award of service connection for chronic sinusitis but denied earlier effective dates and initial compensable ratings for hearing loss and lymphomas. The claims for a back disability, thyroid disability, gallbladder disability, and a 10 percent evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment from December 12, 2001, and he is eligible for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance starting July 24, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety but denied service connection for sinus condition and neck disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for undifferentiated connective tissue disease was remanded.

The Board remands the matter of a compensable rating for rhinitis and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the ameliorative effects of the Veteran's allergy medication.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and remanded the claims for a bilateral hand condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from September 22, 2020, but no higher. The appeal for TDIU and service connection claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, but granted an increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome) and 20 percent for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and headaches, but denied service connection for hyperlipidemia and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, low back, left hip, gastrointestinal, bronchitis, sinusitis disabilities and denied an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for headaches and thyroid disability.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis based on presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during the Veteran's service in Afghanistan. The claims for headaches and GERD were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, and left knee strain. The initial rating period from March 5, 2024, was denied for allergic rhinitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, knee and back issues, neck strain, shin splints, shoulder strain, sinusitis, rhinitis, GERD, penile condition, and bilateral flatfoot.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee strain, limitation of flexion (claimed as bilateral knee condition), and denied a compensable rating for hypertension. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board granted an effective date of March 5, 2012, for allergic rhinitis and a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) with degenerative arthritis and retrolisthesis from February 16, 2021. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability and sinusitis, but denied service connection for tinnitus. The Board also denied increased ratings for psychiatric disability and certain left hip conditions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) exclusively due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status from August 31, 2023.