Sinusitis decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple physical disabilities, including skin rash with blisters on his feet, kidney disability, prostate condition, enlarged lymph nodes in the back, appendicitis, hernia, sinusitis, emphysema, circulation disorder of the lower extremities, and gastrointestinal disorders. The Board found no evidence that any of these conditions were present in service or etiologically related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The right carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness of the right hand, and lumps in the left breast are not considered to be due to an undiagnosed illness or exposure to a specific environment. Sinusitis is also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, an increased rating for spontaneous pneumothorax, and a higher rating for headaches. The evidence does not support granting any of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 18, 2000 for service connection of schizophrenia and sinusitis due to lack of evidence showing intent to file a claim earlier.

The veteran's service-connected right hip disability, frontal sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and left eyebrow scar with paresthesias are currently rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The Board finds that these evaluations do not adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected status post fracture, nasal bone and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than the currently assigned 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his duodenal ulcer and chronic maxillary sinusitis, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect his service-connected gastrointestinal disability picture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, sinusitis, and shoulder injury due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The VA determined that the appellant's allergic rhinosinusitis does not warrant a higher evaluation, as it did not meet the criteria for more than the current 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and initial evaluations in excess of certain disability ratings, finding that the current evaluations were appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, multiple allergies and turbinate surgery, acne keloidosis nuchae, psuedofolliculitis barbae, and dyshydrotic eczema. The claim for headaches was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen it.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for allergic rhinitis, finding no evidence of nasal polyps at any time since October 2, 1995.

The Board denied increased ratings for sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including chest pain, chronic sinusitis, a nervous condition, a nervous stomach, residuals of an ear infection, pleuritis, a back condition, and ulcerated colon and colitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The VA denied a claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for maxillary sinusitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms and objective findings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The veteran's service-connected sinusitis, bursitis of the right hip, and scarring of the tympanic membranes are all rated at their maximum levels. The initial evaluations for sinusitis and bursitis of the right hip remain unchanged, while the evaluation for scarring of the tympanic membranes is increased to 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and his death was due to depression caused by primary alcohol abuse disorder. The service connection for the cause of death is denied as there is no evidence linking the veteran's manic-depressive/bipolar disorder to his military service.