Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal, skin, and sinus conditions due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal on the issues of service connection for left elbow osteoarthritis, right ankle disorder, and sinusitis. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lower back disability and associated radiculopathy, result in loss of use of the lower extremities. The Board grants financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected back disability. The claims for left hand disability, syncope, and sinusitis are remanded pending VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's knee and lumbar spine disabilities are being evaluated again, with a focus on obtaining more detailed information about their current severity.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cervical degenerative disc and joint disease, right shoulder disorder, sinusitis, and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent disabling for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's March 2017 substantive appeal was untimely, as it was received nearly one year after the April 2016 Statement of the Case and more than 60 days after the April 2016 SOC. The decision denied the appeal due to lack of timely submission.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis and an effective date of January 20, 2016. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder conditions and foot disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 1, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, allergies and hay fever due to asbestos exposure. The claims for chronic-eye disorder are also remanded as new evidence suggests a possible secondary or aggravation relationship with service-connected mental health conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma and remanded the claims for hearing loss and sinusitis/rhinitis due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for PTSD, headaches as secondary to a psychiatric disability, skin disability, chronic sinusitis, GERD, tinnitus, and hypertension. The claim for blood in stool is denied. The Board has also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and nonservice-connected pension benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no authority to adjudicate these matters as they are now moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for his right hip degenerative joint disease and bursitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and OSA. The appeals for asthma, rhinitis, right knee disorder, sinusitis, and right ankle disorder are dismissed as the benefits sought have already been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, but only beginning December 16, 2020. TDIU is granted for this period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any right ankle, right leg, and right foot disorders (other than pes planus) and sinusitis/allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's service treatment records show relevant medical history and current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any current left foot disability is related to active service or caused by other service-connected disabilities.,Claims for higher ratings for chronic sinusitis prior to March 2, 2020, and from March 2, 2020, are both denied. The Veteran has experienced non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis in the past year but no incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of the right knee disorder claim which is being remanded. The conditions are presumed to be related to his Persian Gulf War service.