Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to clarify the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service, service-connected conditions, or obesity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence not being material to reopen sinusitis, ocular pressure and compromised vision, and elevated cholesterol claims. The hearing loss claim remains in a REMANDED status.

The Board denied a compensable rating for maxillary sinusitis prior to February 3, 2016, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The claim for GERD was also denied with a higher rating granted but not effective until May 11, 2017.,Right knee patellofemoral syndrome/runner’s knee and left knee patellofemoral syndrome/runner’s knee were both remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, GERD, and eczema have been granted with specific disability ratings. The decision also includes a remand for the issue of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and increased rating as they involve new and relevant evidence, including outstanding Martin Army Community Hospital records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted. The appeal regarding the nasal disorder is still pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's back condition, right ear hearing loss disability, and left ear hearing loss disability are all found to be related to his military service. However, the Veteran's bilateral calf muscle claudication is not considered service-connected.,The Veteran was exposed to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam, which may have contributed to his sinusitis condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and chronic sinusitis, to include associated headaches. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as it is already at the maximum schedular rating. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's sinusitis is not manifested by incapacitating episodes or three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.,The Board has expanded the scope of the Veteran’s claims to encompass any diagnosis raised by the record. The matter is REMANDED for further development as described above.,Entitlement to service connection for a lung disability is remanded due to lack of medical opinion addressing causation related to service, Gulf War exposure, or undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD) is remanded due to the need for further development as described above.,Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for sinusitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, as secondary to his service-connected hypertension and sleep apnea disabilities.

The Board has found that further development of the evidence is required prior to adjudicating the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1987 onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and chronic sinusitis due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection, as well as a need for new examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the claims file without a waiver of AOJ consideration and is requesting its review. The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle disorders, sinusitis, TBI, tension headaches, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for sinusitis with sleep disturbance and has also granted service connection for sinusitis secondary to rhinitis. The decision is based on new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, specifically the existence of sinusitis.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left knee scar is granted, recurrent sinusitis remains at a 10 percent rating, lumbar spine disorder receives a 40 percent rating, right wrist disorder maintains its 10 percent rating, and the Veteran is awarded an initial 20 percent rating from November 28, 2012 to February 22, 2018 for left knee status post arthroscopy with limited flexion.

The Veteran's hypertension and sinusitis have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for PTSD, post-concussive migraines, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis are remanded.,A new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions and his lumbar spondylosis. The Veteran may also need a VR&E evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected right knee lateral meniscus tear, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), status-post cholecystectomy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, and various other conditions have been denied. The claim for joint pain, right knee condition, status post left leg fracture with pin placement, eye condition, sinusitis, acid reflux, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate, and athlete’s foot has also been denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease.