Sinusitis decisions — 2001

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation. His service-connected sinusitis with headaches is also currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for several conditions, including right eye injury and sinusitis. However, the claims for a right knee disorder, tinnitus, and lacerations of the left cheek were denied as not related to service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected sinusitis warrants a ten percent evaluation, effective October 7, 1996.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's rhinitis to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective June 10, 2001. The veteran's TDIU claim remains denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6512.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's frontal sinusitis, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and SBO, but denied service connection for myofascial pain of the lumbar spine. The veteran was awarded a noncompensable rating for his left knee disability in March 1995 and a compensable (10%) rating for his right knee disability as of November 1994.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, chronic sinusitis, and hypertension have been denied. The claim of a skin disability is pending.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the claims for service connection for heart disease as secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis, an increased rating for bilateral maxillary sinusitis, and an increased rating for pulmonary tuberculosis are all dismissed.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected allergic/vasomotor rhinitis with nasal polyp warrants a maximum rating of 30 percent, as there is no evidence of chronic osteomyelitis or near constant sinusitis requiring surgical intervention. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been granted, with the exception of the claim for hemorrhoids which has not yet been reopened.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of strokes and upheld the initial rating of 10 percent for sinusitis.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it was not shown to cause severe and frequent headaches or purulent discharge. The current 10% rating is maintained.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and assigned a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's allergic rhinitis was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is about the initial rating for chronic sinusitis. The Board has requested additional development to determine if a higher rating of 50 percent is warranted and whether the diagnosed recurrent nasal polyposis should be considered separate from the service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis secondary to a service-connected condition. The veteran appealed these decisions.