Sinusitis decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and sinusitis due to lack of current medical evidence meeting VA criteria. The veteran's claim was not well-grounded as he did not submit sufficient evidence to establish a current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding that it was not well-grounded.

The Board has granted service connection for maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and asthma, both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's symptoms are currently managed with medications and do not significantly impair his daily activities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing impairment, defective vision, skin disorder, verruca vulgaris (warts), bilateral ankle disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic headaches, maxillary sinusitis, thoracic spine disability, pes cavus, and left varicocele are not well grounded. The veteran's claims have been denied as they do not meet the threshold requirement for a well-grounded claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, arthritis of both hands, arthritis of the left knee, epididymitis, and sinusitis as they are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded, and thus denied.

The veteran's sinusitis with headaches and deviated septum are rated at 30%, while a separate 10% rating is granted for the deviated nasal septum. The scar of the right side of the nose and the scar of the external canthus of the right eye both warrant increased ratings to 10%. The combined disability evaluation is now 40%.

The veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of sebaceous cysts of the scrotum is granted.,The veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for a mixed headache disorder and for residuals of viral meningitis with low back pain, as well as compensable ratings for sinusitis, right shoulder tendonitis, and residuals of viral meningitis with cervical rigidity are considered well grounded.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for conversion reaction neurosis and sinusitis were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinosinusitis is denied as the evidence does not show that his condition meets or exceeds the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the evidence submitted by the appellant since 1955 is not material and does not serve to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis on a direct basis. The issue of CUE in the January 1955 decision was also considered, but the appellant's allegations do not raise a valid claim of CUE.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for sinusitis, COPD, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and osteoarthritis of the left knee as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and any period of active service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from July 22, 1999. The veteran's cervical spine disorder is currently rated at 10 percent and the sinusitis claim remains pending.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation for sinusitis to 30 percent and denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for residuals of revision septoplasty and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an increased rating for allergic rhinitis, finding that there is no current evidence of chronic sinusitis or a diagnosis of chronic sinus disease. The veteran's symptoms are better explained by his history of allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's left hip dysplasia and recurrent sinusitis with rhinitis and postoperative residuals of removal of a mucous retention cyst are service-connected. The veteran is currently receiving a 10% rating for his sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and assigned a noncompensable rating. The veteran's lumbosacral strain and hemorrhoids are already service-connected, with the former receiving a higher 10% rating.

The Board granted service connection for gastroenteritis and denied the claims of service connection for a chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle aches, joint pain, skin rashes, and shortness of breath. The right ear hearing loss and sinusitis were not rated higher than noncompensable.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, sinusitis/rhinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a skin disorder (claimed as tinea cruris and tinea pedis) are granted. The claim for left knee disorder is not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis, finding that her symptoms were attributable to a diagnosed condition and not related to service.