Sinusitis decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis with a deviated nasal septum does not warrant a compensable rating under current VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and TDIU due to a lack of evidence showing that his current eye disability was caused by VA medical treatment, and because he is not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to respiratory disorders, to include sinusitis and asthma, due to an undiagnosed illness incurred during Persian Gulf service. The veteran's claimed respiratory disorders are not presumed to be due to his periods of active duty service. For joint pain, the Board also found no evidence linking it to his periods of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae, with the initial evaluations of 10 percent each.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder (claimed as allergic rhinitis) and a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, including duodenitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left nasal cavity were denied as not well grounded. The claim for increased evaluation for partial hemiparesis of the left ulnar nerve, residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and knee, and tracheostomy was also denied. The claims for effective dates earlier than June 11, 1997, for residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right ankle and neck were not addressed as they are not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, except for the grant of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective October 24, 2000.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for otitis media and for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis. The evidence does not establish current diagnoses or show an increase in severity of these disabilities.

The veteran is granted service connection for irritable colon condition with gastroesophageal reflux starting from May 17, 1991. The effective date of the grant of a 30 percent disability rating for this condition is set at May 17, 1991.

The Board has granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's rhinitis, finding that it is manifested by incomplete obstruction of the nasal passages. The veteran's long history of symptoms and objective findings support this rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as he had not undergone radical surgery or chronic osteomyelitis requiring repeated curettage. The claim was denied.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis, or bronchitis during service and there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board denied service connection for the residuals of a septoplasty, allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, low back pain, headaches, and cervical spine pain. The veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis secondary to bronchial asthma was denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not establish a relationship between the two conditions. However, the veteran's dysthymia was granted an increased evaluation of 10% prior to March 21, 2000, but no increase in rating after this date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, lung disorder as a result of exposure to herbicide agents, heart disease, and hypertension. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.