Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for acne and remanded claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, ED, allergic rhinitis, and a psychiatric disorder for readjudication with new evidence.

The Board denied the claims for higher ratings and service connection, granted a 10 percent rating for a residual scar, and remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board remands the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis based on the Veteran's qualifying service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, where exposure to fine particulate matter is presumed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for headaches and rhinitis, as characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months were not shown for headaches, and greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side was not shown for rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of current disabilities or functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder strain, rhinitis, sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, it granted service connection for left knee strain as secondary to the service-connected right knee strain.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during Persian Gulf War service.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis, deviated septum, and hypertrophy nasal turbinates based on the Veteran's credible statements and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran is granted a 50 percent evaluation for mixed feature headaches and a 10 percent evaluation for allergic rhinitis, with the latter effective October 7, 2024.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions and granted service connection for a few others, including tinea pedis, bilateral dry eye syndrome, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability (secondary), right knee disability (secondary), and right ankle disability (secondary).

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a neck condition, sinusitis, and asthma to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent disabling for service-connected tinnitus and remanded claims for service connection for asthma, rhinitis, and bronchitis due to outstanding medical records and unclear nexus opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, respiratory conditions, foot and ankle issues, knee and shoulder problems, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, IBS, and sleep disorders.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle strain and increased disability ratings to 30 percent for right shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis, right knee arthritic changes, left knee meniscal repair, sinusitis, and vertigo.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date than August 5, 2021, for awards of service connection for allergic rhinitis and asthma.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, right elbow condition, left arm radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome, all of which are presumed related to exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that her stress fractures of the calcaneal bones were no more than moderate in severity and that she did not have a current right shoulder disability. The claims for service connection for angioedema, hives, abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, heart murmur, migraine headaches, allergic rhinitis, left ankle disability, and prolapsed rectum were remanded for further development.