Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment as of September 1, 2018. The Board granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility based on the evidence showing marginal employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, a right big toe disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease due to incomplete records and failure to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The appeal of the right wrist disorder claim is dismissed. The claims for cervical and/or lumbar spine disorder, diabetes mellitus Type II (DM II), respiratory/pulmonary disorder other than asthma and allergic rhinitis, cholecystectomy disease, and body joint pain are all granted.

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently manifested by no more than five non-incapacitating episodes over the past 12 months without evidence of incapacitating episodes, prolonged antibiotic treatment, radical surgery, or chronic osteomyelitis. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's request to restore a disability rating of 30% for rhinitis effective August 1, 2020 is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran is entitled to a disability rating in excess of 10% for sinusitis and remands this issue.

The Board has remanded four service connection claims for a heart condition, hypertension, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sinusitis with headaches due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of whether preexisting conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 5, 2009 for the grant of service connection for sinusitis. The claim seeking an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for allergic rhinitis is remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

Service connection is granted for rhinitis, sinusitis, hiatal hernia and polyps, chronic multisymptom illness with chronic fatigue, memory loss, headaches, and loss of sense of taste. The claims for loss of sense of smell are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disability, allergic sinusitis, and left ischial tuberosity bursitis as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis and remanded his claims for higher evaluations of left and right ankle strains.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not causally related to his service-connected disabilities, but may have been aggravated by them. The Board also found that obesity, which may be linked to his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. As such, the issue must be remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anxiety, insomnia, and depression is dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of reoccurring acute sinusitis due to his in-service exposure to particulate matter during his active service. Service connection is granted for this condition. Other claims are denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's previously assigned disability ratings for urinary incontinence and sinusitis, effective July 1, 2020, as the reductions were not proper.

Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis is granted.,The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to active service or secondary to service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he filed a Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review while his request for HLR on the January 2024 rating decision was still pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, COPD, and sinusitis due to a lack of VA examinations in support of these claims.