Sinusitis decisions — 2000

The veteran's sinusitis with headaches was evaluated at 30 percent from January 22, 1993 to October 6, 1996 and later increased to 50 percent effective April 14, 2000. The Board found that the higher evaluations were not warranted under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding that it was aggravated during his second period of service.

The veteran's chronic upper respiratory infections are found to have originated during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and chronic sinusitis ratings are denied as the evidence does not show that the disabilities warranted such earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to a compensable evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis, right shoulder separation, or lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for sinusitis, right hip disability, fibrocystic breast disease, and uterine fibroid were denied as there is no evidence of compensable impairment under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, sinusitis, hearing loss in the right ear, and loss of teeth due to trauma. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 3, 2000. The other claims of service connection remain pending.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the increased rating for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal. The claim of an increased rating for sinusitis was denied as there is no credible evidence supporting a higher disability evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and migraine headaches, finding that these conditions are attributable to service. The claims for right knee condition, left wrist pain, and left shoulder pain were denied as the evidence does not show a current disability or link to service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for right maxillary sinusitis from October 19, 1993.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and granted a 30% evaluation for bronchial asthma, effective from May 10, 1999.

The veteran's rhinosinusitis was granted service connection and rated at 10% effective December 21, 1993. The Board found that the earlier effective date of December 21, 1993 is warranted due to the persistence of disability since the filing of her claim.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues related to his tobacco use and nicotine dependence has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal for a nervous disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for sinusitis will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his service-connected disabilities, including syncope, COPD, depression, cardiovascular disorders, and sinusitis.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and entitlement to TDIU due to failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and restoration of his evaluation for postoperative residuals of septorhinoplasty are pending.

The veteran's service-connected sinusitis has not resulted in any incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or three to six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating is denied.