Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is related to her military service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, upper respiratory disorder (including sinusitis, allergies, and rhinitis), headaches as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and vertigo as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence or incomplete examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is not rated higher than noncompensable due to the lack of evidence showing greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The Veteran's claim for headaches was granted in May 2014 with an effective date of December 16, 2013. The Board found that the earlier claim for sinusitis precluded a separate grant of service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation of why higher ratings were denied and for obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's sinusitis symptoms, including nosebleeds, need further examination and opinion regarding medication effects.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and a need for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding the Veteran's claimed sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected sinusitis, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of November 28, 2018 for a rating of 30 percent for maxillary sinusitis (including allergic rhinitis), but not greater. The claimant was previously rated at 50% prior to this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, previously claimed as sinusitis. Service connection was denied for sinusitis due to lack of a current diagnosis and the absence of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a rating in excess of 30 percent for GERD, with IBS as of January 27 2012 are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the calendar year 2017 for a back brace is granted due to wear and tear on his clothes caused by using a back brace.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as the claim for an initial compensable rating for tension headaches due to lack of proper consideration in prior decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pes planus of both feet and allergic vasomotor rhinitis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) at any time during the appeals period.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his left knee condition was withdrawn. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted, but the issue of a compensable rating for GERD remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition and allergic rhinitis due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for all of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including Hepatitis C, angina, bone cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression or anxiety), erectile dysfunction, GERD, herpes, hypertension, jaw disability, left arm disability, left knee disability, left leg disability, left shoulder disability, lung cancer, prostate cancer, sinusitis, and sore throat. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.

A rating of 10 percent for service-connected chronic maxillary sinusitis is granted. The Veteran's right knee instability and range of motion issues are remanded.

The Veteran is granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for residuals of tuberculosis, an eye disorder, and a sinus condition are denied.,Service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to in-service radiation exposure is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis caused or aggravated his sleep apnea. A new examination is required.