Sinusitis decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation for rhinitis and a compensable evaluation for sinusitis, as there was no evidence of polyps or other criteria necessary to warrant a higher rating.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches effective June 12, 2019. Other claims were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as well as remanded several service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, radiculopathy of the right and left arms as secondary to cervical spine strain, chronic sinusitis, left ankle strain, cervical spine strain, and lumbar strain. An initial rating was assigned for each condition.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 5, 2021, for the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as well as service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and direct service connection for sinusitis.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, sinusitis, and sleep apnea. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, right and left knee disorders, chronic fatigue, residuals of a left hand fracture, vertigo, and others. The claims were not remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable initial evaluation for chronic sinusitis, deviated septum, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and a chronic sinus condition, to include rhinitis, but denied an increased rating for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for rhinitis to obtain an adequate medical opinion as to its etiology.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, with PTSD; a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain, to include intervertebral disc syndrome, with degenerative arthritis (thoracolumbar spine disability); and initial ratings of 40 percent each for right sciatic radiculopathy and left sciatic radiculopathy. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, a 20 percent rating or higher for the same condition, and any other initial ratings for the right knee disability under other Diagnostic Codes pertaining to the knee and leg. A 10 percent rating was granted for allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis).

The appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for sinusitis with headaches was dismissed due to untimely filing. The appeals for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of multiple conditions, including multiple myeloma, schizotypal personality disorder with mild neurocognitive disorder, fibromyalgia, vitamin D deficiency, migraine headaches, and others.

The Board granted increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and unspecified anxiety disorder, effective September 30, 2021, while denying increased ratings for vertigo and chronic sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and dismissed the appeal for sleep apnea, while remanding the claim for rhinitis (claimed as a sinus condition) for further development.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the claim for a respiratory disorder, claimed as asthma.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and remanded claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include rhinitis, and a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and sinusitis, but denied an increased rating for PTSD with MDD with melancholic features.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for sinusitis as of August 26, 2021, finding the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated near-constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and tenderness of the affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries.