{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/chronic-sinusitis","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:29:23.540Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Chronic sinusitis","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":8135,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":18.3,"denied_pct":29.7,"remanded_pct":50.2,"granted_on_merits_pct":38.1,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":468,"granted_pct":8.5,"denied_pct":31.6,"remanded_pct":52.8},{"year":2018,"issues":859,"granted_pct":12.1,"denied_pct":30.6,"remanded_pct":54},{"year":2019,"issues":846,"granted_pct":11.2,"denied_pct":30.6,"remanded_pct":54.8},{"year":2020,"issues":737,"granted_pct":12.2,"denied_pct":30.1,"remanded_pct":56.4},{"year":2021,"issues":708,"granted_pct":12.9,"denied_pct":26.3,"remanded_pct":58.3},{"year":2022,"issues":700,"granted_pct":16.4,"denied_pct":23.1,"remanded_pct":57.7},{"year":2023,"issues":825,"granted_pct":24.4,"denied_pct":22.3,"remanded_pct":50.8},{"year":2024,"issues":1077,"granted_pct":23.7,"denied_pct":26.5,"remanded_pct":48.1},{"year":2025,"issues":1553,"granted_pct":24.4,"denied_pct":35.5,"remanded_pct":37.5},{"year":2026,"issues":500,"granted_pct":24.4,"denied_pct":36.8,"remanded_pct":37.4}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":65,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":925,"granted_pct_with":57.7,"granted_pct_without":34.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":5953,"granted_pct_with":37.1,"granted_pct_without":41.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":1272,"granted_pct_with":67,"granted_pct_without":29.7},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":4079,"granted_pct_with":37.4,"granted_pct_without":38.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":2496,"granted_pct_with":50.9,"granted_pct_without":30.5},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":349,"granted_pct_with":65.9,"granted_pct_without":36.5},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":6462,"granted_pct_with":37.6,"granted_pct_without":40.4},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":223,"granted_pct_with":60.9,"granted_pct_without":37.4},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":440,"granted_pct_with":48,"granted_pct_without":37.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":256},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":45},{"reason":"pact act presumptive service connection","decisions":31},{"reason":"presumptive service connection under 38 c.f.r. § 3.320","decisions":26},{"reason":"more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year","decisions":17},{"reason":"continuity of symptomatology since service","decisions":17}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":474},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":211},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":159},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":154},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":135},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":118}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26038923","year":2026,"judge":"S.C. KREMBS","rationale":"Lay and medical testimony found competent and credible; PACT Act presumption applied due to Southwest Asia service and burn pit exposure; VA opinion inadequate for relying on absence of treatment records"},{"case_id":"A26039138","year":2026,"judge":"JIMMY L. BARDIN","rationale":"Current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis; In-service treatment for upper respiratory infection; Related to in-service exposure to airborne pollutants; Private nurse practitioner opinion linking condition to exposures"},{"case_id":"A26038543","year":2026,"judge":"DUSTIN L. WARE","rationale":"Weight of evidence favors service connection; Veteran's testimony regarding symptom onset post-deployment is credible; Absence of service treatment records does not preclude service connection; Post-service medical evidence more probative than VA examiner's opinion"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26041021","year":2026,"judge":"A. DEAN","rationale":"No evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation; No nexus to service established"},{"case_id":"A26040584","year":2026,"judge":"LESLEY A. REIN","rationale":"No competent evidence of current diagnosis.; Contradictory evidence regarding diagnosis (CT scan negative).; Evidence persuasively weighs against service connection."},{"case_id":"A26040248","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"No objective medical evidence of current sinusitis.; VA examinations found no diagnosis of sinusitis.; Post-service records also lacked diagnosis or persistent symptoms."}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}