Sinusitis decisions — 2000

The veteran's disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and COPD, are rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The RO found that his alcohol abuse was due to willful misconduct and thus not compensable.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, chronic rhinitis, or major depression with psychotic features due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic sinusitis and lung scars are not well grounded, thus denying both claims.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for kidney stones due to a lack of timely appeal. The claim for an increased rating for sinusitis remains before the Board and is not granted as there is no evidence of severe disability warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the appellant's current conditions to his military service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected sinusitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not considered to be the primary cause of his inability to work, as he has other non-service connected health issues that prevent him from engaging in gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between any current sinusitis, bronchitis, and bronchiectasis and service. Therefore, the claims of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for sinusitis and a right ankle disorder due to new evidence submitted since the May 1988 rating decision. However, the claims are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a TDIU rating is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing bursitis of the right toe or degenerative arthritis of the feet. However, allergic rhinitis was demonstrated during service and is presumed to have been incurred then.

The veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as his duodenal ulcer disease, are considered to have originated during service. He is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as there were no incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis, which has been rated at 10 percent since 1968, warrants a higher rating of 30 percent under both old and new diagnostic criteria for chronic maxillary sinusitis effective October 7, 1996. The veteran's condition is characterized by severe symptoms including frequent headaches and facial pain.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found it to be well-grounded. The claims for jungle rot of the feet, blackout spells, dizziness, numbness and tingling of the hands, viral hepatitis, and sinusitis are pending further development and review.