Sinusitis decisions — 2004

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sinusitis and granted it. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, hypertension (due to lung disability), GERD, and residuals of pneumonia. The effective date is set at June 18, 1999, the day following the grant of a 100% rating for the veteran's lung disability.

The veteran's maxillary sinusitis with postoperative chondrosarcoma on the right was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 2, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his nonservice-connected disabilities, which do not meet the criteria outlined in VA regulations.

The veteran's right eye disorder was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for postoperative residuals of an ethmoid mass, with a history of sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The RO remanded the case for additional development including obtaining VA examination records.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the conditions are not considered to be incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the criteria did not allow separate ratings for each ear for tinnitus.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic sinusitis with headaches and rhinitis, currently rated at 10 percent. The case has been remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has ordered another examination to determine if the veteran's nasal polyposis should be considered a separate disability from his service-connected chronic sinusitis. The case is also remanded for compliance with VCAA requirements and re-evaluation of the veteran's current evaluation for sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis but granted an initial rating of 0 percent for the status postoperative umbilical hernia. The appellant does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis, and his service-connected hernia disability is currently rated as 0 percent disabling.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of health care services to veterans involved in Project 112/SHAD Testing. The issue of service connection for asbestosis remains denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his sinusitis with headaches and residuals of a left ankle injury, as there was no evidence supporting a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current respiratory condition, specifically chronic allergic rhinitis with chronic maxillary sinusitis, is as likely as not related to episodes of upper respiratory infection during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, chronic sinusitis, plantar warts, and a low back disability. The appeals are dismissed as there is no evidence of in-service or postservice chronic conditions.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's chronic sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for such a rating based on frequent episodes of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of his military service. Service connection is denied for all issues raised in this appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a left upper lobectomy with pleural adhesions warrant a 100 percent rating, effective from when his FEV-1 value was less than 40 percent predicted. The claim for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an increased rating for postoperative residuals of a left upper lobectomy with pleural adhesions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found service connection for bilateral hearing loss but remanded the claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for right chronic maxillary sinusitis due to incomplete development of records and need for a VA examination.