Sinusitis decisions — 2002

The VA determined that the appellant does not have a current hearing loss disability, chest disorder, chronic bronchitis or chronic pulmonary symptoms, sinus bradycardia, or chronic allergic rhinitis. The Board found no evidence of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's maxillary sinusitis warrants a 30 percent rating from October 7, 1996. Prior to this date, the condition was rated at 10 percent. The decision is mixed as it grants an increased rating but denies the request for an initial increase.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and multiple other conditions, preclude him from performing substantially gainful employment. His right carpal tunnel syndrome is not found to be secondary to his service-connected right arm disorders. He does not meet eligibility requirements for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment. The veteran's TDIU rating claim is denied as he has a combined disability rating of 80 percent and the evidence shows that his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for lumbar strain and sinusitis, as these conditions are causally related to her active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including sinusitis, sinus headaches, tinnitus, chronic otitis media, nasal deformity, and bilateral hearing loss, were not shown by a preponderance of the competent medical evidence to be linked to service, including as due to head trauma sustained in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension with vascular disease, and heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of chronic conditions in service or any link to service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease with bypass graft, have resulted in permanent loss of use of both lower extremities. Additionally, he has blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less. As a result, the veteran is eligible for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis is not proximately due to or the result of, nor has it been aggravated by, a service-connected disability.

The veteran's sinusitis is not productive of incapacitating episodes or recurring non-incapacitating episodes, and no objective symptoms have been documented. Therefore, a compensable evaluation is denied.,The veteran's malunion of the mandible has only moderate impairment, as evidenced by popping and clicking without loss of motion or function. A higher rating is not warranted.,The veteran's cranial nerve dysfunction with muscle spasms results in facial spasms and paresthesia but does not meet criteria for severe or complete paralysis. Therefore, a 10 percent evaluation remains appropriate.,The veteran's headaches have been productive of prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over several months, warranting the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 31, 2000 for service connection for sinusitis with headaches. The veteran argued that he should have received this benefit in 1971 due to a lack of understanding and emotional issues at that time, but the Board found no legal merit as his reopened claim was received on October 31, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but denied claims for hypertension, head injury residuals, headaches, and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches and sinusitis were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they due to an undiagnosed illness. The diagnoses of these conditions have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The VA determined that the veteran's pansinusitis with headaches did not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for more severe conditions such as chronic osteomyelitis or frequent incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, and a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD from November 7, 1996. The veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent and the issues regarding PTSD prior to that date have been denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for chronic sinusitis, status post bilateral endoscopic ethmoidectomy with etiopathic cough is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of an extraschedular rating. The issues of service connection for asthma and bronchitis are also pending.

The veteran's service records show he had symptoms of pseudofolliculitis barbae and sinusitis/rhinitis during his military service. The VA examinations confirmed these conditions, leading to a grant of service connection for both.

The Board has determined that the criteria for a permanent combined 60 percent rating are not met, as the veteran's service-connected disabilities may improve with treatment and do not have a static or permanent nature.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it was not manifested by polyps or greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The veteran's claims for service connection for brittle teeth, immune disorder, thyroid disorder, tumors, and sinusitis are denied as there is no objective evidence to support his assertions of radium treatment in service.