Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. An examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for his service-connected chronic sinusitis and allergic and chronic vasomotor rhinitis are dismissed due to concurrent legacy appeals under the Board's Hearing Docket.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis was denied as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher 50% rating, which requires either radical surgery or repeated surgeries. The current rating of 30% is appropriate based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and frequency of non-incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings on several conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for right and left knee disabilities.

The appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder or insomnia, sleep apnea, and increased ratings for post-operative residuals spinal fusion/IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), painful scar, status post laminectomy, scars, status post laminectomy and spinal fusion surgeries, and maxillary sinusitis has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal in June 2024.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for headaches was rendered moot by the AOJ's award of service connection for headaches in February 2024.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for sciatic radicular pain, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with TBI, migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, and deviated nasal septum are all rated. The rating for the adjustment disorder is granted at 70 percent, effective February 4, 2020. The ratings for the other conditions remain unchanged.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left leg disability, left shin disability, left arm disability, right shin disability, and sinusitis as new and relevant evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPPV has been remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2020 VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic otitis media, and sinusitis are inextricably intertwined with the BPPV claim and have also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death, attributing it to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and cholecystectomy. The decision also moots any entitlement to Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's asthma is rated at 100% due to the need for daily use of systemic corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.,Prior to January 15, 2020, the Veteran's chronic sinusitis was rated at 10%, and from that date onwards, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis due to inadequate medical opinion regarding herbicide exposure. A new examination is required to determine if the conditions are related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for finger pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a lung condition, and sinusitis due to lack of current disability. The claims for low back and bilateral shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for restoration of a 50 percent rating for chronic sinusitis and entitlement to TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted an increased rating of 10 percent, but the effective date for this increase is denied. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis does not meet the criteria for a prior effective date before August 1, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis (claimed as chronic sinusitis) and found that the Veteran's condition is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis due to inadequate examination in August 2019. The Veteran's STRs show he had issues with his sinuses during service, and current VA records indicate ongoing problems. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.