Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent disabling since June 27, 2015. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma, eczema, rhinitis, sinusitis, postoperative colon cancer (residuals other than scars), irritable bowel syndrome, and anal fissures are all denied.,Service connection is not granted for PFB.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a back disability was granted. Service connection for a back disability, as secondary to knee and ankle disabilities, is also granted. The Veteran's facial injury, including sinusitis, is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are each rated at 10 percent. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of herpes simplex virus (HSV), finding that it began in service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and ratings for certain disabilities. The specific issues include dental disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections, sleep apnea, arm and elbow disorders, frostbite residuals, low back disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, psychiatric disorders, pes planus, gout in the lower extremities, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's rhinitis has not been shown to involve greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, so the claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The appeal to establish that a Substantive Appeal of the September 29, 2014 rating decision was timely filed is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and effective date prior to January 9, 2013, for SMC at the housebound rate is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral glaucoma, diabetes mellitus type II, allergic rhinitis, inability to tolerate medication, and fatty liver. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action on heart disability, hypertension rating, and TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that his symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to burn pits and other chemicals.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for headaches and sinusitis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for allergies, sinusitis, PTSD, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The claim to reopen service connection for various conditions is granted. The claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and potential VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's service connection for gastrointestinal problems/irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to Gulf War environmental hazards has been granted. However, his earlier effective date claims for sinusitis and rhinitis have been denied.,The Veteran was previously denied an earlier effective date for sinusitis because he did not request it during the May 2012 phone call. The September 13, 2013 VA Form 21-4318 is considered his first formal claim for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and non-allergic rhinitis due to conflicting medical opinions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinus problems, left ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea (to include as secondary to bipolar disorder), gout, bilateral knee disabilities, and back disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a recurrent respiratory disability and a recurrent urinary disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and lack of representation, requiring additional VA examinations and consideration of all evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to determine the nature and possible relationship of his hypertension to service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including lumbosacral spine disability with associated radiculopathy, cervical spine disability with associated radiculopathy, chronic sinusitis, epigastric disability, right zygomatic arch disability, and left shoulder disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or related to service.