Sinusitis Board decisions

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 Veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis were granted service connection as they clearly existed prior to service and did not worsen beyond their natural progression during service.,VA found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis was aggravated by exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis was granted on a presumptive basis due to Gulf War service, effective August 5, 2021.,An initial disability rating of 10 percent for sinusitis is granted.

Your claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis is dismissed because it is concurrent with another pending claim. The AOJ will continue to review your case.

Service connection for cervical cord compression is denied.,Service connection for sinusitis as secondary to service-connected migraines is granted. An increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new evidence and exposure claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to incomplete development, including a missing medical report and an addendum opinion on the nature and etiology of his TBI. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the missing report and provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran has a current disability related to a TBI and if so, whether it is related to service.

The Board remands the matter for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused and/or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, thus granting service connection for OSA as secondary to sinusitis.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated at a 10 percent disability rating throughout the appeal period, with periods of non-compensable ratings in between. The claim for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable disability ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected deviated nasal septum and vasomotor rhinitis has been dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing his appeals.

The appeals for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and chronic bronchitis have been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome (claimed as arthritis in knees), left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome (claimed as arthritis in knees), and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development. Additionally, earlier effective dates are being sought for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's claimed sinusitis. The claim will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for sinusitis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and need for a new opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for dental and oral condition, chronic sinusitis, and asthma due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's complete service treatment records were not associated with her claims file prior to the August 2021 rating decision on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing sinus issues were aggravated by service, and whether these issues contributed to his death. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on both theories.

The Veteran's asthma and rhinitis are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Iraq. Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches, maxillary and frontal sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis have been granted increased ratings to 50%, 10%, and 30% respectively for the entire appellate period.