Sinusitis decisions — 2026

The Board has found that the VA examination and opinion are incomplete in considering whether the Veteran has an undiagnosed illness related to her sinuses. The claim is being remanded for a new addendum opinion.

The Veteran's back scars are rated at a noncompensable level due to the scars not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802.,The Veteran's bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted with a 20 percent rating, reflecting moderate incomplete paralysis.

The appeals seeking service connection for various conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his requests through his authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support a claim prior to August 5, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on a single service-connected disability for purposes of SMC at the housebound rate, finding that none of her disabilities alone meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service connection claims due to a duty to assist error. The claims for bilateral flatfeet/fallen arches, chronic rhinitis/sinusitis, unspecified anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right knee scar are all being reconsidered.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.,An effective date of March 26, 2023 for the 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain has been granted.,An earlier effective date than April 17, 2024 for the 50 percent evaluation for temporomandibular joint dysfunction is denied.,The Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy evaluations are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's migraines are rated at their maximum schedular rating of 50 percent and no extraschedular evaluation has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia is also rated at its maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD with opioid and alcohol use disorders) is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is denied as not service connected.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,The Veteran's right wrist strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found no evidence supporting an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted an increased rating to 30 percent, based on three or more incapacitating episodes per year resulting in significant functional impact.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of current sinusitis since the filing of his claim in October 2024, and the VA examiner found no evidence of chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection as presumed related to exposure to fine particulate matter during his Gulf War service. His bilateral hearing loss and left eyebrow, scalp scars are not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to his service connection claims for various conditions, including sinusitis allergies, bilateral ankle pain, bilateral knee pain, and heat sensitive low tolerance. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's Disease and related conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as he has been employed in protected positions with the fire department. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU due to his substantial income from multiple jobs.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to preclude all substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU effective March 29, 2022. Effective March 21, 2025, the Veteran is also in receipt of SMC due to his combined rating exceeding 70%.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for chronic sinusitis was granted with a 10% disability rating, considering his symptoms and medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review of his migraine headaches and recurrent sinusitis ratings, as well as the TDIU issue. The VA examiner did not account for the Veteran's past surgeries related to his sinusitis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service, and the exposure to toxic chemicals claimed by the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under the PACT Act or other regulations.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, residuals of a left ankle sprain, and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for these conditions.