Sinusitis decisions — 2000

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for sinusitis and essential tremors of the hands, as well as his requests to establish service connection for left and right upper extremity disorders. The decision found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for sinusitis or a finding of service connection for any upper extremity disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a bilateral hip condition, a bilateral knee condition, and a hand disability. The tinea pedis claim was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, a chronic ear condition, sinusitis, and headaches due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected allergic bronchial asthma and increased the rating of the service-connected allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disabilities to 30 percent. The decision does not address the issue of hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pain and numbness in the upper extremities, headaches, generalized osteoarthritis (claimed as arthritis of the whole body), sinusitis, asthma, and breathing problems. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for allergic rhinitis, finding that the veteran's condition did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of an allergic disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, tension headaches, bursitis of the left shoulder, sinusitis, and neck pain are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected allergic rhinitis, hemorrhoids, and pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. The conditions were evaluated under a direct service connection theory without any presumption or secondary basis.

The veteran's appeal was granted, and service connection was established for various conditions. However, the specific ratings assigned were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10% for the veteran's service-connected scar, right eyelid. The claim for rhinitis/sinusitis is not supported by evidence meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation. An initial compensable evaluation of 10% is also granted for degenerative spurring, cervical spine.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment based on his educational attainment and occupational experience.

The Board denied increased ratings for hepatitis, sinusitis, and a skin disorder of the feet due to the veteran's failure without good cause to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board found no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claim for right hand and wrist disorders related to VA treatment following her fall in December 1997, thus denying the claim.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, and a right knee disability as secondary to a back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, finding that the veteran's right ankle sprain warranted a 20% evaluation and did not meet criteria for higher ratings. Service connection was granted for sinusitis but denied for other conditions.

The Board found that the appellant did not submit a timely substantive appeal as to the claim for service connection for sinusitis, and thus dismissed the appeal.

The veteran's dyshidrotic eczema of the hands is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets his claim for an increased rating.,The veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO granted a higher rating to 30 percent effective November 14, 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, sarcoidosis, berylliosis, chronic bronchitis, and fatigue. The issues of service connection for these conditions are determined to be direct based on evidence showing they were incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability. The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knees, as well as his sinusitis, have also been granted.