Sinusitis decisions — 2001

The Board has granted service connection for left deviated nasal septum and sinusitis, but denied the claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent, and his diabetes mellitus, hypertension, alcoholic hepatitis, sinusitis, and kidney stones are each rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or pension benefits due to unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, excluding hypertension; a skin condition; allergic rhinitis; and a headache disorder. The evidence does not support the presence of any chronic cardiovascular or skin conditions during service or at present.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obtaining medical examinations and records.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine with radiculopathy, depression, hepatitis B, appendectomy scar, skin rash, hemorrhoids, right wrist keloid, epididymitis, chronic prostatitis, impotency, colon disorder, anemia, and sinusitis. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back pain, as well as frequent sore throats, were not timely appealed within the required time frame. As a result, these issues are dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The veteran's low back pain/strain is currently rated at 20% effective from the date of original service connection.,The veteran's chronic sinusitis/allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 30%, with a maximum potential rating of 50%. The veteran has had 3 or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged treatment (4 to 6 weeks).

The Board has determined that the combined service-connected disability rating is correctly calculated as 50 percent. The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vocational goal of becoming a gunsmith is reasonably feasible for purposes of entitlement to vocational rehabilitation and training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue, but denied his claims for increased ratings for chronic sinusitis with headaches and hypertension.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis and tension/rebound headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria, and thus denied her claim.

The VA denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's allergic rhinitis, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a private hospitalization is denied as he did not meet the criteria for reimbursement.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including residuals of pneumonia as well as sinusitis and bronchitis. The veteran's current respiratory symptoms are believed to be related to his military service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches and sinusitis were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current sinusitis began during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and a compensable evaluation for her left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic sinusitis in service or currently. The left knee disability is evaluated as noncompensably disabling.