Sinusitis decisions — 2001

The veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 30 percent, effective February 19, 1992. The Board found that the condition prior to this date did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent and after this date does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial noncompensable ratings for his low back disorder, sinusitis, right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, left wrist ganglion cyst, left shoulder disability, right knee disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded to determine proper initial ratings.

The veteran's low back pain syndrome is granted with a 40 percent evaluation effective March 2, 2000. Bilateral pes planus and right long finger metacarpophalangeal joint disability are each granted with noncompensable evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a blowout fracture and service connection for chronic sinusitis and bronchitis, finding that neither condition was shown to be related to service or secondary to another service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating greater than 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for short-term memory loss, fatigue due to an undiagnosed disorder, and sinusitis. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a nexus between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for loss of sense of smell secondary to allergic rhinitis and sinusitis due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial in September 1994. The appellant's condition is now considered part of the merits of the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and increased evaluations for his nasal bone fracture and anxiety neurosis with history of PTSD. The RO confirmed and continued the noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and bilateral defective hearing, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a tonsillectomy. The decision found that there was no evidence to support a higher evaluation under either the old or new criteria.

The Board found that the appellant's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine did not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent, and denied his claim for service connection for sinusitis due to lack of evidence showing its origin in service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The VA has determined that the veteran's frontal sinus fracture residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as they are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's maxillary sinusitis warrants a 30 percent rating, reflecting more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain and/or purulent discharge.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA found that sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and benign prostatic hypertrophy was also rated as noncompensable.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and residuals of septoplasty did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected sinusitis and schistosomiasis, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.