Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear and chronic sinusitis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Both conditions had onset during service, with current diagnoses supported by medical records.

Service connection has been granted for headaches (also claimed as migraines), nasal obstruction to include sinusitis, and vasomotor to include allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disorder, chronic sinusitis, and duodenal ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to the need for additional examinations to determine if there is a relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Good Samaritan Hospital is denied because a VA facility was available to provide the care, and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable, sound, wise, and practicable.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of PTSD. The claims are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis due to new and material evidence, but remanded it for further development as a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's stomach cancer and sinusitis claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches. Service connections for sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder, NOS and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board has denied increased ratings for right and left inguinal hernias, with the exception of a remand on the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis.,Chronic sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right wrist fracture, DM with ED, and right CTS are not rated higher than the current levels.,Service connection for sinusitis and sleep disorder is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death from accidental heroin intoxication, which the Board finds was secondary to self-medication of PTSD symptoms.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a head injury with residual chronic headaches is granted. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, traumatic brain injury with residual headaches, and right knee disability are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to the filing of his intent to file a claim.,An earlier effective date was granted for the assignment of a separate rating for sinusitis, but not earlier than May 31, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to assess her claimed conditions, as she did not receive notification of the scheduled VA examinations. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, initial rating for sinusitis, and initial compensable rating for hypertension due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his chronic sinusitis claim.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for depression of the nasofrontal area. The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of his sense of smell, deviated septum, and chronic sinusitis is remanded due to lack of a current VA examination. Service connection for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for neck disability, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), sinusitis, respiratory disability, and psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, have been dismissed. The VA has remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis, respiratory disability, IBS, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sinusitis is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected bronchial asthma with bronchitis. The Veteran will need to provide information about any healthcare providers who have treated him for sinusitis, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if he has had sinusitis at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension and migraine headaches have been granted service connection.,Service connection for sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD is remanded due to lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.