Sinusitis decisions — 2002

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, finding that neither condition warranted a compensable or higher evaluation.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, but denied some issues related to earlier effective dates.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim, but found no service connection for sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and other conditions, finding no new and material evidence. The claims for headaches, sinusitis, social phobia, OCD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and depressive disorder were also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected residuals of frostbite of the feet, PTSD, and sinusitis were denied as there was no ascertainable increase in disability prior to February 10, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis is not related to his service-connected residuals of septorhinoplasty, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic pansinusitis and denied entitlement to special monthly pension (SMP). The veteran's chronic pansinusitis is manifested by subjective complaints of pain, recurrent nasal stuffiness, and occasional headaches. He has no incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's sinusitis to his service-connected hearing loss, and denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show current sinusitis, and thus could not grant service connection. For PTSD, a rating in excess of 30 percent from April 14, 1997, to August 10, 1997, and a rating in excess of 50 percent as of August 11, 1997, was denied. The veteran's claim for increased rating for residuals of a fracture of a nasal bone from April 14, 1997, to August 10, 1997, was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or combination of illnesses that became manifest during the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim of service connection for asthma, bronchitis chest pain, and allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's initial claim for anemia was granted with a noncompensable evaluation, which was later increased to 10 percent. The veteran also received a compensable evaluation for sinusitis. The appeal is resolved in favor of the veteran.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of current periodontal disease, cervical strain with muscular headaches, or sinusitis with rhinitis related to active service. The residuals of the bunionectomy were not considered severe enough to warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis warrant a 30 percent evaluation, as she experiences more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected heart disorder did not contribute to his death or accelerate it. The cause of death was determined to be esophageal cancer, which began due to chronic reflux issues related to his service-connected conditions and aggravated by medications for those conditions.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, vasomotor rhinitis, and intermittent labyrinthitis as they are not related to the veteran's in-service concussion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of chronic allergic rhinosinusitis as secondary to his service-connected disability, finding that there is no competent evidence to show a relationship between his current symptoms and his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a 'Travel Board' hearing. The appeal is currently in process and no effective date or rating assigned has been determined yet.

The veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations have been granted, with the highest evaluation of 20 percent assigned for his residuals of an excision of the left knee retropatellar fat pad. The other issues remain at their current non-compensable levels.

The Board found that the veteran's allergies and rhinitis existed prior to service and were not aggravated by military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.