Sinusitis & rhinitis — all decisions

The appeal for an increased rating for chronic sinusitis with sinus headache was denied, while the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hearing loss were remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 10 percent disability rating for sinusitis, as the evidence did not support one or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, nor three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting prior to September 9, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and denied a compensable rating for hypertension. The claims for service connection for a psychiatric condition, pre-cancerous growths cysts in upper gum and nasal cavity, obstructive sleep apnea, and muscle weakness were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder as secondary to the left knee disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bilateral eye disorder, rhinitis, and left ear hearing loss.

The appeal for a disability rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of a valid intent to file prior to May 17, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of sinusitis, as the evidence did not support a claim prior to October 16, 2023.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches and a 50 percent rating for left knee strain, limitation of extension, while denying ratings in excess of 30 percent for TMJ and a compensable rating for alopecia areata. The decision also granted 20 percent ratings for left and right knee strains with limitations on flexion and extension.

The Board denied service connection for deviated septum and dismissed the appeals for separate compensable rating for headaches, rating in excess of 10 percent for pansinusitis and frontal sinusitis, rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, and service connection for right ankle strain due to procedural issues.

The appeal regarding service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder is dismissed as the disability was granted, and there remains no justiciable case or controversy with respect to this claim.

The Board granted service connection for voiding dysfunction and prostate cancer residuals status post prostatectomy with an effective date of August 4, 2020, but denied the same for ethmoidal sinusitis. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a headache disability were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, as there was no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, which would warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the increased ratings of sinusitis and generalized anxiety disorder due to a lack of factually ascertainable evidence supporting such claims.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was granted a maximum schedular 30 percent rating from November 4, 2021, due to the presence of polyps.

The Board granted an effective date of January 12, 2022, for the award of service connection for sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome but denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from February 17, 2022.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic sinusitis associated with toxic exposure.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Board also granted initial ratings of 20%, 30%, and 70% for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, respectively.

The Board dismissed the appeals for proposed reduction, increased rating, compensable rating, and service connection due to untimely filings of Notice of Disagreement.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, lung condition, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, bilateral plantar fasciitis with bone spurs, left kidney cyst, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, migraine, and chronic allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and cervical degenerative arthritis with right upper extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence.