Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and headaches as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's GERD is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion considering in-service exposures and ongoing symptoms.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded as there may be an issue with verifying exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ should verify whether the USS Coral Sea was within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Vietnam while the Veteran was aboard.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion considering his asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion addressing whether it is related to bare-skin exposure to jet fuel during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder) is being remanded as there may be issues with verifying in-service stressors. The AOJ should attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors involving witnessing the death of a fellow serviceman aboard the USS Coral Sea during the '1967 cruise'.,The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded as secondary to his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should attempt to obtain VA treatment records from Portland VAMC for the period between 1970 and 2002.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examination records, which may provide evidence of a worsening disorder.,The Veteran's ear infection disability is being remanded as there may be issues with obtaining relevant private treatment records. The AOJ should attempt to obtain these records and complete any necessary requests.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining outstanding records.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion is incomplete and requires further development to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to service or a service-connected condition, including deviated septum.

Service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, right knee strain, PTSD, sinusitis, and rhinitis (bacterial and allergic) is granted.,An effective date prior to February 17, 2016, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for right ankle strain is denied. Service connection for PTSD, sinusitis, and rhinitis (bacterial and allergic) is also granted with an effective date of February 17, 2016.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and tinnitus. The Veteran's asthma, chronic bronchitis, and/or COPD are remanded to determine if they are related to asbestos exposure during active service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, hyperemic nasal mucosa, headaches, and a sleep disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for service-connected sinusitis and bilateral pes planus prior to April 7, 2016 have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in October 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim of secondary service connection for sinusitis. The claims are being remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding these issues.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for reactive arthritis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD are inadequate. The Veteran must be afforded new VA examinations to determine whether his conditions had their onset in service or are related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a back disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral epididymal cysts, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and chronic maxillary sinusitis/rhinitis, did not render him unemployable during the period from July 2, 2010 to February 27, 2014. The Board found that his education, past work experience, and functional impairment caused by these disabilities were not sufficient to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's sinusitis, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all under review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder, right elbow, low back, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic sinusitis disabilities. The appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed left ankle disability.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for chronic sinusitis, but the Veteran's claims for service connection of narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's sinusitis was previously rated as noncompensable. However, since June 18, 2014, the Veteran is now entitled to a rating of 10 percent for his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the submission of additional VA records, and she has not expressed satisfaction with the current rating for allergic rhinitis. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, and sinusitis are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional documents related to his claims.,A Statement of the Case must be issued regarding the denial of service connection for prostate cancer residuals, a compensable rating for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, and a compensable rating for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, all other conditions, and effective dates. The Veteran's claims were not granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to allegations of missing service treatment records and a need to verify the Veteran's social security number.