Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis and fatigue, claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness and/or medically unexplained chronic multisystem illness. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient medical evidence. The claims will be reviewed with additional information from the Veteran and further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU rating prior to August 7, 2013 and SMC from August 7, 2013 due to the need for further development of the record. The issues are related as they both involve service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ruptured right eardrum has been granted. The claims for service connection for headaches and allergic rhinitis are remanded.

The Board has granted a compensable rating of 10% for the Veteran's allergic rhinitis with associated permanent hypertrophy of nasal turbinates, finding that greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides is present.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete medical records, specifically a June 2017 hospitalization for sinusitis at an unspecified facility. The Board requests that the VA obtain these records and any private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any chronic sinusitis, including whether it is related to in-service injury or disease, or aggravated by service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, right knee PFS, and left knee PFS. The case is remanded to obtain addendum opinions regarding whether kidney stones and bronchitis are related to service.

The Veteran's asthma, right maxillary cyst with sinusitis, and sleep apnea are all found to be related to his service. The Board granted the claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of residuals of nose fracture, sinusitis with headaches, and allergic rhinitis due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs another VA examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hand tremors, migraine headaches, right knee disability, and sinusitis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The reduction of the disability rating for service-connected asthma from 60 percent to 30 percent, effective April 29, 2016, was not proper and is restored. The reduction of the disability rating for service-connected chronic sinusitis from 30 percent to noncompensable, effective April 29, 2016, was also not proper and is restored.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected deviated septum and granted an effective date of July 30, 2012 for sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines, finding that they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis. The decision is based on medical evidence showing a causal relationship between the Veteran's current migraines and his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU prior to November 12, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include hypertension, tinnitus, headaches, radiating pain in legs, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension, sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis, and a right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic low back pain and denied the claims for allergic rhinitis, respiratory disability, and sinusitis due to exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's chronic low back pain is related to his military service, but his preexisting allergic rhinitis was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to work. The issues include seeking higher ratings for chronic pansinusitis, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss; determining whether he has service connection for Meniere’s disease; and considering entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma is claimed to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, but a VA examiner found no causal link. The Board has ordered a new examination and opinion to address this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations, and his increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis will be referred to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case.