Sinusitis decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VCAA compliance and a VA examination for thrombophlebitis with venous insufficiency of the right leg.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia and found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder began during active service. The other issues on appeal are remanded to obtain VA treatment records, conduct examinations, and determine appropriate ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis did not begin in service and was not caused by any incident of service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further action due to missing VA treatment records and clarification of whether or not the veteran wishes to have a Board hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for dysthymic disorder and maxillary and ethmoidal sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, earaches, skin disorders of the legs, heart murmur, herpes progenitalis, granulomatous lung disease, and simple myopia. The issues were not decided on the merits as the theory of service connection was unknown.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected disabilities. The appeal is now pending again with the RO.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are granted. Effective from December 22, 2000, he is entitled to service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, otitis media, perforation of tympanic membranes (both ears), respiratory disorder (claimed as breathing problems), residuals of rib fractures, sinusitis, and a left shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation for nasal fracture, service connection for an upper respiratory disorder and a psychiatric disorder. The VA found that the residuals of the nasal fracture did not warrant a compensable rating, there was no evidence of sinusitis or relationship to the service-connected nasal fracture, and there was no link between the service-connected nasal fracture disability and depression.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for a low back disorder and headaches. The veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied. Claims for sinusitis, hypertension, chronic urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal disorder, and throat disorder are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for face fractures and nasal septum traumatic deflection, but denied an increased rating for nasal septum traumatic deflection and remanded the issues of sinusitis and ear disease to the RO.

The veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment in the amount of $2,488 is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection and new and material evidence are pending.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date were denied. The appeal of the November 1983 rating decision regarding service connection for allergies, asthma, and arthritis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's right knee and sinusitis claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence from his private orthopedist.

The Board has determined that the veteran's deviated septum and chronic sinusitis are service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further procedural and evidentiary development, including consideration of the VCAA. The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis since May 19, 1993 is now pending.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for service connection due to an undiagnosed illness, including multiple chemical sensitivity, low back disorder, skin rashes, sinusitis with upper respiratory disorders and bronchial asthma, and heart disorder. The RO must obtain the veteran's service personnel file and provide appropriate VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, renal calculi, sinusitis with headaches, prostatitis, and varicose veins. The RO will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sinusitis, and heart disease manifested by AV block. The claim for a higher rating for a deviated nasal septum was not granted, and the claim for an earlier effective date for gastroenteritis was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension and sinusitis. The veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical records from Drs. J.K.L. and G.P.F.