Sinusitis decisions — 2003

The veteran's sinusitis is productive of objectively reported episodes of discharge and headaches, but there is no evidence of incapacitating recurrences or severe frequent headaches. The rating assigned for the condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, otitis externa, and labyrinthitis as the evidence does not support a finding of current disability related to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for maxillary sinusitis and residuals of nasal surgery, effective from the date of the September 1998 decision. The claim for a compensable rating for fungal infection of both feet is denied.

The veteran's sinusitis disability has been rated at 30 percent since October 2001 due to multiple episodes requiring treatment with antibiotics and other medications. The Board finds that this evidence is sufficient for a 30 percent evaluation as requested by the veteran.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under Diagnostic Code 6513.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands and feet, initial compensable evaluation for sinusitis, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes, and separate evaluations for bilateral knee degenerative changes.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head injury, a psychiatric disability, and sinusitis. However, the evidence submitted does not establish that these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sinusitis, eye disorder (astigmatism and presbyopia), CTS of the left wrist, CTS of the right wrist, and gum disease are all denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic bronchitis and chronic sinusitis, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the appellant's allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media, pansinusitis, mid back pain, left hip pain, and a left foot condition as there is no medical evidence of current disabilities in these areas. The veteran was granted service connection for mechanical low back pain but her claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic maxillary sinusitis does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or purulent discharge.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred PTSD as a result of service and there is credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. The claim for sinusitis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, but the veteran's PTSD claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a hearing loss disability and sinusitis, finding that the veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability was granted, with the effective date set at November 16, 1998. The RO also granted service connection for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and sinusitis, finding no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, sinusitis, a right shoulder disorder, and a left hand disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the current condition and his military service.