Sinusitis decisions — 2000

The Board has requested a remand due to the need for further examination and evaluation of the veteran's allergies, including his skin disorder and allergic ethmoid rhino sinusitis. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, and Eustachian tube dysfunction. The evidence shows that the veteran had a pre-existing deviated nasal septum but developed allergic rhinitis with Eustachian tube dysfunction during his military service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder and generalized skin rash, but denied service connection for hypertension and sinusitis. The veteran's appeal on the issue of TDIU was dismissed.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for allergic rhinitis effective from October 7, 1996. The veteran's contentions as to his symptoms are consistent with the medical findings during the September 1997 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple conditions, including sinusitis, allergies, hypertension, and skin disorders are well-grounded. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides. The claim for PTSD remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, PTSD, and bronchial asthma. The veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions were not well-grounded, and new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and nosebleeds, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the claims for secondary service connection for heart disease and sinusitis, and these claims are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's allergic rhinitis, back disability, and glaucoma were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected maxillary sinusitis with hyperesthetic rhinitis warrants a 30 percent rating, reflecting nearly constant non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis characterized by purulent discharge and occasional headaches.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for sinusitis with headaches is granted, and the effective date is set at August 1, 1990.

The veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent effective February 12, 1998. Prior to this date, the condition was rated as 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for prostatitis and sinusitis, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's injuries were not incurred in the line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, specifically operating a motorcycle at excessive speed and under the influence of alcohol.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Tucson and requesting medical evidence linking the veteran's disabilities to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder as they were not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for postoperative excision residuals of lipomas of the right scapula with recurrence of lipoma was granted, and his effective date for a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis is set at November 1, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis or rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence to support a plausible case.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder or sinusitis during active service and no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between any of the disabilities at issue and his period of active service.