BVA decisions by condition
Sinusitis: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a sinusitis issue in 3,959 decisions. It granted the sinusitis issue in 28.1% of them, above the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 35.7%, and remanded it in 36.2%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 44.0% were granted.
Decisions
3,959
2018–2026
Granted
28.1%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
44.0%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
36.2%
Denied: 35.7%
Sinusitis outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 135 | 16.3% | 30.4% | 52.6% |
| 2019 | 244 | 16.4% | 30.7% | 52.5% |
| 2020 | 366 | 22.1% | 36.3% | 41.8% |
| 2021 | 370 | 23.8% | 35.9% | 40.3% |
| 2022 | 385 | 29.6% | 28.3% | 43.4% |
| 2023 | 460 | 32.2% | 29.1% | 38.0% |
| 2024 | 648 | 32.1% | 35.2% | 33.0% |
| 2025 | 1,114 | 31.1% | 41.7% | 27.0% |
| 2026 | 237 | 28.3% | 40.9% | 31.2% |
Evidence in granted and denied sinusitis decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the sinusitis issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 714 | 66.6% | 39.1% | +27.5 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 653 | 60.6% | 40.4% | +20.2 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 1,298 | 53.1% | 39.3% | +13.8 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 193 | 56.6% | 43.3% | +13.3 pts |
| Buddy statement | 114 | 56.7% | 43.7% | +13.0 pts |
| Combat service | 228 | 53.6% | 43.5% | +10.1 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 187 | 46.0% | 44.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Lay statement | 3,398 | 42.9% | 51.7% | −8.8 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 66.2% of the decisions that granted sinusitis.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 36.1% of grants and 14.1% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often sinusitis was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 1,951 | 41.7% | 46.2% | −4.5 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 3,329 | 41.1% | 65.5% | −24.3 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied sinusitis
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established162
- Presumptive service connection under 38 c.f.r. § 3.32076
- Qualifying service in southwest asia theater of operations27
- Service in southwest asia theater of operations25
- Presumed exposure to fine particulate matter21
- More than six non-incapacitating episodes per year19
- Qualifying service in southwest asia15
- Manifested within 10 years of separation13
Most common reasons in denials
- No current diagnosis275
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim118
- Service records negative or silent79
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service77
- Current diagnosis established50
- No incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment50
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis30
- Already at the maximum schedular rating17
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent sinusitis decisions
Granted
Veteran's lay statements regarding sinus issues and TERA exposure; STRs showing multiple sinus treatments and diagnoses; MPRs confirming service locations and assignments; VA treatment records acknowledging sinusitis; Adequate private medical opinion linking sinusitis to service
Direct service connection established; Caused by active duty, mold/sensitizer exposure; Benefit of doubt resolved in Veteran's favor
Veteran's symptoms meet criteria for 10% rating; No incapacitating episodes or surgeries documented; Evidence supports 3-6 non-incapacitating episodes per year
Denied
No objective findings of sinusitis on VA examinations; March 2023 and November 2024 VA examinations showed clear paranasal sinuses and insufficient objective evidence; No post-service treatment records for sinusitis
Service treatment records showed acute sinusitis during service.; Separation examination found normal sinuses.; Post-service medical records are silent for sinus issues.; VA examiner found no current diagnosis of sinusitis.; Private nexus opinion was inadequate due to lack of rationale.
No current diagnosis of sinusitis found in the record.; Service treatment records showed some assessments of sinusitis, but no treatment or complaints within the applicable evidentiary window.; Weight of the evidence is against the existence of the condition.
Rules that apply to sinusitis claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your sinusitis case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a sinusitis issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.