Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of an acquired psychological disorder and sinusitis. The Board dismissed the appeals as withdrawn.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased rating of migraines and service connection for hypertension and malaise due to untimeliness. The appeal for service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no current diagnosis, while the appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was granted as it began during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a duty-to-assist error in not considering whether chronic sinusitis aggravated obesity, which in turn caused OSA. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examination.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to her service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder (non-dominant), and non-allergic rhinitis with throat irritation were denied. The claim for left knee instability was granted with an effective date of January 12, 2007.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for non-allergic rhinitis with throat irritation was dismissed due to lack of timely appeal and no new relevant evidence received within the applicable period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's tinnitus and vertigo are found to be related to her military service. The claims for laryngitis and sinusitis are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's service connection for chronic rhinitis is granted due to exposure to burn pits during his service in Iraq and Kuwait. The Board also remanded the issue of increased rating for sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinusitis was granted, with a new effective date set at September 20, 2021. The Board found that no evidence or communication existed prior to this date that could be construed as a claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a staged initial rating higher than 10 percent for maxillary sinusitis with retention cyst prior to February 21, 2023, and higher than 50 percent thereafter is remanded due to insufficient development of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied, and the appeal for service connection for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, sinus disability, left ankle disability, and sleep apnea. The left foot disability is also granted as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.,Service connection was established based on direct evidence of a present disability and credible lay statements regarding in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a right flank flat linear scar status post partial nephrectomy and chronic sinusitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis was not manifested by one or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. Therefore, the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and duty-to-assist errors, particularly regarding the etiology of the Veteran's nasal polyps. The examiner was asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition began during service or is related to military service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis is granted due to exposure to burn pits. The claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome is denied as the Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, but denied service connection for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's eczema is found to have onset in service and is related to her active military service.,There is no current residual disability from the tonsillectomy, and thus service connection for residuals of tonsillectomy is denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is remanded as there is insufficient evidence addressing direct or secondary service connection.,The Veteran's PCOS is found to be not related to her service-connected asthma. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether obesity acts as an intermediate step between the service-connected asthma and PCOS.,Service connection for PCOS remains remanded.