Sinusitis decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the issues for further review and decision. The veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, headaches, impaired sleeping, ear, nose, and throat disorder, right shoulder disability, and retropatellar syndrome of the right knee are being reviewed.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinosinusitis, and bilateral pterygium. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for astigmatism and for increased ratings for bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPS) and sinusitis. The rating for bunion right foot was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for dermatitis of the dorsal surface of the hands and denied entitlement to service connection for sinusitis. The veteran's claim for dermatitis was not reopened, and there is no current evidence of sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims regarding the propriety of reducing his anxiety reaction rating from 30% to 10%, as well as his entitlement to increased ratings for both his anxiety reaction and allergic rhinitis with maxillary sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to VCAA compliance issues and need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum incurred during active duty. The remaining issues on appeal regarding higher ratings for various service-connected conditions are remanded to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis, as well as his claim for outpatient dental treatment on the basis of dental trauma. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis and hemorrhoids do not warrant a rating in excess of their current evaluations, as they are rated at the maximum available under VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's right sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there is no evidence of at least one or two incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The veteran's vocational rehabilitation benefits were terminated because she did not participate in her plan since March 1993, and VA is limited to providing only 18 months of employment services. The Board finds that the veteran has been rehabilitated and does not have a serious employment handicap.

The Board has determined that the appellant's chronic sinusitis warrants a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The veteran's disabilities do not result in the need for regular personal assistance or protection from daily hazards, thus he is not entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hypertension and left ear hearing loss disability, as well as his service connection claims for heart disease, tinnitus, PTSD, and sinusitis. The RO found that there was no current evidence of a compensable level of hearing loss or a diagnosis of heart disease, PTSD, or sinusitis in service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete consideration of new evidence and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and denied claims for otitis media and chest pain. Service connection is granted for sinusitis due to its presence during active duty, but the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of otitis media or chest pain related to his military service.

The veteran's sinusitis was initially granted service connection and rated at 0 percent from February 18, 1997 to April 19, 2000. From June 1, 2000 onwards, the rating was increased to 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vasomotor rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis with headaches were incurred in active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of new medical evidence after the issuance of the August 2003 Statement of the Case (SOC). The RO must review the entire record, including this new evidence, and issue an SSOC for readjudication.