Sinusitis & rhinitis — all decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a total disability based on individual unemployability, special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, SMC based on housebound status, and service connection for vertigo.

The Board denied the claim for an initial PTSD rating in excess of 70 percent, finding the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate the 70 percent criteria rather than the 100 percent criteria. The Board remanded claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, and for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, chronic sinusitis, and a chronic headache disability. The Board also denied an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder.

The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected disability of wedge compression fracture at L1 with end plate spurring, degenerative disc disease, and annular tear at the L5-S1. The claim for service connection for rhinitis was denied.

The Board denied service connection for anosmia, bilateral hearing loss, and sinusitis as there was no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claims. The claim for hypertension was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for rhinosinusitis was granted based on a presumption of exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Kuwait. The appeal regarding the back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral shin splints but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, coronary heart disease, tremors of the hands, restless legs syndrome, obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, and hypertension.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus was denied an earlier effective date, and the appeal for allergic rhinitis was dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability but denied service connection for shin splints, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hyperlipidemia, an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for eczema, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for COPD.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, allergic rhinitis, and a psychiatric disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and an initial 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while denying service connection for fibromyalgia, respiratory insufficiency, tension headaches, TMJ/TMD, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar associated with the right knee.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent disability rating for dry eye syndrome and effective dates prior to August 1, 2024, for the award of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a compensable rating for hypertension, and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis. The GERD claim was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, service connection for sinusitis, tension headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also claimed as insomnia.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding no current diagnosis of sinusitis. The claims for a headache condition and erectile dysfunction were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding no persuasive evidence linking his current condition to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements that his sinusitis began during service and has continued to the present.