Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's combined disability rating from July 11, 2012, through August 8, 2017, was accurately assigned as 80 percent due to the service-connected conditions. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings on neck disability, right knee disorder, PTSD, sinusitis, and hypertension are in need of further development due to the possibility of worsening since his last VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with these rating claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sinusitis with congestion (claimed as secondary to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not compensable as there are no polyps or significant nasal obstruction.,Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not incurred during service and is not related to any in-service injury, event, or disease. The condition began many years after separation from active duty.,Obstructive sleep apnea was not diagnosed during service and the Veteran did not have a CPAP machine prescribed for this condition while on active duty.,Diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is not considered to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability. The Veteran does not meet the requirement of presumed herbicide exposure as per 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).,Bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is not considered to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability.,Bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is not considered to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis due to new and material evidence. The claim for erectile dysfunction remains denied as there is no direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. Service connection is therefore denied.,Service connection was denied for hypothyroidism as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's claim for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma has also been denied due to lack of a diagnosis in service or soon after discharge.,The Veteran's Peyronie’s disease claim remains pending, with the Board finding that current evidence does not support a diagnosis in service or shortly after separation from active duty.,Service connection was denied for allergic rhinitis as there is no evidence of obstruction meeting the criteria set forth in VA's rating schedule. The Veteran's request for an increased disability rating remains pending.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not been rated higher than zero percent due to lack of nasal obstruction or polyps.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied in December 2008 and the claim is now reopened.

The Board has denied service connection for urethral/bladder problems and granted restoration of ratings for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. The decision also found that the reduction in disability ratings from 10 percent to noncompensable was improper.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied as there is no new and material evidence to support the claim.,Service connection for pelvic tilt condition, GERD, and pes planus were all denied as they are not related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on the issue of a higher rating for xerosis with pruritis. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and sinusitis due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vasomotor rhinitis and a back condition due to exposure to toxic chemicals and ground water contamination at McClellan Air Force Base (AFB) and Warren AFB. The Veteran is also asked if he wishes to continue his appeal for a back disability.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for headaches and dizziness with blackouts is denied.,The appeals seeking to reopen claims of service connection for bronchitis and COPD are granted. The de novo review of these claims is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,An initial 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis is granted. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and headaches are remanded due to lack of recent examination.,The Veteran’s skin disorder (squamous cell carcinoma) is presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the relationship with his claimed lichen planus-like keratosis remains unclear. Cervical spine disorder secondary to lumbar spine disability is also remanded for further evaluation.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent from May 7, 2012, for lumbosacral Strain (claimed as low back strain) is remanded.,Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder condition and remanded the claim for sinusitis. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific matters decided.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his service-connected sinusitis is denied.,The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis prior to June 17, 2015. However, the RO found that this evaluation was in error and assigned a non-compensable rating for the period before June 17, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and sinusitis disabilities. The knee disability claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

Prior to November 22, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,Since November 22, 2017, the Veteran has a combined rating of 80 percent for his service-connected disabilities and is rated at 100 percent for kidney cancer. His TDIU claim is denied as he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment.