Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and sinusitis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded for further examination.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss remains pending as it requires additional evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the need for additional service treatment records and personnel records.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the initial ratings for deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis, as the Veteran's representative stated that his conditions have worsened since the last examination over 4 years ago. The Veteran will need to undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2017 for the awards of service connection for bilateral eye vitreous opacities, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability. The claims for higher ratings for sinusitis and atrioventricular block with bradycardia are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hyperthyroidism, sinusitis with headaches, hypertension with diabetic nephropathy, right ankle disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, eye disorder (papilledema), and lung disorder due to missing medical records. The case must be developed by obtaining all relevant treatment records from VA and private sources.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or allergic rhinitis, specifically related medications.

The Board has granted service connection for left inguinal neuritis and remanded the issues of service connection for left wrist disorder and non-allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his PTSD causes only occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, as it is related to the Veteran's back injury during active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The VA has been remanded to obtain necessary documentation regarding the April 15, 2014 cervical spine fusion surgery and determine if any additional disability resulting from this surgery was an unforeseeable event or a known risk of the procedure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis is dismissed. The Board finds that his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinus headaches has no legal merit and denies it.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he has not experienced a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyspnea is denied as he has not experienced a clinically diagnosed respiratory condition during the appellate period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher 10 or 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, hypogonadism and deviated septum are related to his service-connected conditions. The claims for increased ratings will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals regarding TBI, PTSD, and sinusitis before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including exposure to asbestos and other chemicals. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement of medical expenses for emergency services provided by Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital and Northwest Acute Care Specialists in Vancouver, Washington on May 27, 2015 due to the Veteran's condition being of such a nature that delay would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address the issues of service connection for various disabilities, as the previous VA examinations did not adequately address certain aspects and the relevant law has changed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vocal cord dysfunction is related to her service-connected rhinitis and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to her service-connected rhinitis.