Sinusitis decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (psychiatric disability), tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain with levoconvex midthoracic scoliosis (lumbar spine disability), right shoulder dislocation with rotator cuff tendonitis and shoulder strain (right shoulder disability), left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis (left shoulder disability), right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), right ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (right ankle disability), and left ankle sprain with lateral collateral ligament injury (left ankle disability) has been granted. The effective date for these decisions is November 28, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability rating for headaches and service connection for chronic sinusitis were denied as it is not factually ascertainable that there was an increase in severity within one year of the filing of his initial claim on June 15, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support a current disability during the pendency of the claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic sinusitis have been denied. The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for chronic sinusitis has also been denied.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 18, 2018 for various ratings and Dependents' Educational Assistance awards.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes related to bilateral hearing loss. The appeals for service connection for other conditions are remanded due to failure of the VA to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. Other conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), type II diabetes, erectile dysfunction, nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral restless leg syndrome are also granted. Service connection is established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during or shortly after his military service.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for headaches was dismissed due to the lack of timely filing and concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis/IBS (formerly GERD) has been dismissed as it is no longer pending at the Board level after a grant by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for CTS was dismissed due to concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as this represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and CTS were remanded due to concurrent election issues. These issues will be addressed in a future rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was not on appeal as it was predecisional error not to address the current rating issue. The issue is remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches will be considered in a future decision.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to service connection, including for low back disability and its associated conditions. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to errors in the decision-making process regarding her exposure to toxins during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for sinusitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes.

The Board has denied service connection for low back strain, right and left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, respiratory condition, sinusitis, and rhinitis. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims of service connection for sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, a left knee condition, and a right knee condition. These issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, glaucoma, Raynaud's syndrome, and sinusitis.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions during or after his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within the year prior to the receipt of his claims.,The Veteran's lumbar spine IVDS is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5243, and he seeks a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is found to include sleep disturbances, which are granted as a secondary condition. The claims for sleep apnea and right big toe disability are denied. Other rating appeals are dismissed due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board has granted a 30 percent rating effective August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to address his claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, heart condition, liver condition, kidney condition, lung condition, sinusitis, rhinitis, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet. The examinations will assess whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, recurrent major depressive disorder, chronic sleep impairment, pansinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.