Sinusitis decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids and denied reopening of the claim for chronic liver disease as secondary to service-connected hepatitis. The rating for residuals of duodenal ulcer was also denied, but a new rating of 40 percent for varicose veins of the right lower extremity was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes cannot be established without a current VA examination, but he failed to appear for scheduled examinations. The RO recognized additional evidence received after the December 1998 denial, including diagnoses of neck condition, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, and dyspnea on exertion.

The Board denied an increased rating for sinusitis and found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an original disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, finding that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability and service connection for chronic rhinitis. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service, including exposure to poisonous gases.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, arthritis of the right knee, and hypertension were denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Board found that the veteran's upper respiratory condition, including sinusitis and a deviated septum, did not develop as a result of active service or exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disability, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and allergic rhinosinusitis, pre-existed service but was aggravated by military service. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's current asthma and sinusitis are related to his active service, granting his claim for direct service connection.

The veteran's occipital neuralgia is currently manifested by complaints of increasingly intense headaches, nausea, and dizziness. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.,The veteran's sinusitis was evaluated as noncompensable due to lack of clinical or radiographic evidence of underlying sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis, finding no evidence of current sinusitis and noting that there was a complete absence of medical evidence to show that the veteran had chronic or recurrent sinusitis since he last treated it in 1972.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal. The RO previously denied claims of service connection for epididymitis, rhinitis, osteoarthritis of the cervical, dorsal, and lumbar spine, and sinus condition on final basis. New evidence received since previous denials is not sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board finds that the veteran's chronic, recurrent sinusitis began during active service and grants entitlement to service connection for sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed seizure disorder, and his facial fractures with sinusitis and septoplasty residuals do not warrant an increased evaluation. The right knee fracture with degenerative changes is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of sinusitis and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The combined rating is 40 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied. The VA determined that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating, as there were no findings of nasal polyps on examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for allergic rhinitis, otitis media, and residuals of a tonsillectomy as there was no evidence to support ratings in excess of 10 percent under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, right knee disorder, and deviated nasal septum and rhinitis. The veteran's chronic headaches are not related to active service.

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

The Board found no evidence of current sinusitis and concluded that the veteran's symptoms are due to a nonservice-connected allergic rhinitis. Therefore, service connection for sinusitis was denied.