Sinusitis decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for a circulatory disorder and did not grant a higher rating than 30 percent for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis with sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are service-connected based on direct evidence and not due to an undiagnosed illness.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for sinusitis with rhinitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an increased evaluation for sinusitis, finding no evidence of current disabilities attributable to service.

The veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of increased evaluations and service connection. The issue of PTSD was decided, finding that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis or in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 30 percent rating due to lack of evidence of severe symptoms or surgery.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a compensable evaluation for post-operative right cheek cyst removal, but granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's lumbar spine disability. The decision also noted that the veteran did not have current asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating of cervical spine condition and service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain, right shoulder strain, left wrist injury, sinusitis/myalgia, and spinal tap. The veteran appealed these decisions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations of sinusitis, right shoulder injury, and ligament injury to the right wrist as there were no timely substantive appeals filed.

The veteran's allergic rhinitis, dysthymia, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the left knee, and scar from nevi on the back are all service-connected. The veteran received a noncompensable rating for dysthymia, which was increased to 30 percent effective April 1997. The veteran's left knee condition is rated at 10 percent since April 1997.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an increased rating for chronic sinusitis, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection for sinusitis due to his withdrawal of the claim. The Board denied service connection for a pituitary microadenoma as there is no current evidence of such condition and the medical records do not support its existence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's upper respiratory disability, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, is attributable to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder including sinusitis and tonsillitis, as well as her claim for an increased rating for bilateral residuals of resection arthroplasty of the proximal inter phalangeal joints of the fourth and fifth toes. The veteran was granted a 20% disability rating for each foot.

The Board has granted service connection for alopecia areata and denied service connection for atrophic rhinitis and tinea pedis. The decision on tinea pedis remains pending as the RO is requested to obtain additional medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected rhinitis, characterized as allergic rhinitis, warranted a 10 percent evaluation based on minimal crusting and slight deviation of the nasal septum. The criteria for higher evaluations were not met.

The veteran's chronic sinusitis with right maxillary polyp, post-operative condition is rated at 50 percent. The Board found the veteran's symptoms to be severe and granted a higher evaluation.

The VA has determined that the initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is appropriate at a 10 percent level, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, and increased the rating for postoperative, recurrent, maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis to 10 percent disabling. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of avulsion fracture, left ulna, with traumatic arthritis and bone deformity remains in controversy as it has not been addressed by the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and 10 percent for asthma. The effective date remains October 1992.