Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation. The initial ratings for bronchial asthma with bronchitis, erectile dysfunction (ED), coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, left carotid artery blockage status post endarterectomy, cerebral vascular accident (CVA), double bypass heart surgery with lower heart valve replacement, painful sternotomy scar secondary to heart surgery, hyperlipidemia, type two diabetes mellitus (DM-II), chronic sinusitis, recurrent colonic polyps, left middle finger condition, and left ring finger condition are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis. The claim of aggravation of sleep apnea by service-connected allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis are granted service connection under the PACT Act, effective from August 7, 2013.,TMJ is granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective February 3, 2021.,Depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating effective February 3, 2021.,Tension headaches are denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.,Fibromyalgia remains at its maximum allowable rating of 50 percent.,IBS with GERD is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

All claims for service connection related to sleep apnea, skin disability (undiagnosed illness), chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypercholesterolemia, headache disability, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension/high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the failure to file a subsequent Notice of Disagreement after filing for Higher-Level Review.

The Veteran's migraines are granted an increased rating to 50 percent, but his rhinitis and sinusitis remain at non-compensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, intestinal disability (including IBS), sinusitis, upper respiratory infection disability, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right knee strain, and left knee strain has been denied.,Remanded issues include GERD and knee strains.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis due to a lack of complete STRs, inadequate TERA opinions, and failure to obtain direct service connection opinions. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain all relevant STRs and provide addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis, both of which are presumed to be related to the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again by a VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sinusitis and his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The VA is instructed to obtain private medical records, request an addendum opinion from the examiner who provided a previous opinion, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding chronic sinusitis. The Veteran's service in Southwest Asia is presumed, and he claims his current condition is related to burn pit exposure during his tours.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a compensable rating for his allergic rhinitis, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for any of the available ratings under DC 6522.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinusitis associated with Gulf War exposure, finding that there was no objective medical evidence to suggest chronic sinusitis until February 2022. The Veteran's claim is not considered as reopening a previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and requires an opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to his in-service complaints, toxic exposures, or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a deviated nasal septum has been withdrawn. The Board also denied service connection for left knee disability, IBS, sinusitis, and OSA due to burn pit exposure.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no current evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress, feed himself, and perform daily activities. He is also not considered housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 40 percent, effective September 27, 2021.,Right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathies were each rated at 20 percent, also effective September 27, 2021.,Sinusitis was rated at 30 percent, effective September 27, 2021. Rhinitis remained rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's migraine condition is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of sinusitis in the record.