Sinusitis decisions — 2005

The Board has decided that further development is needed due to insufficient medical evidence linking the veteran's reported conditions to his military service. The appeal will be returned for this purpose.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for chronic rhinosinusitis, currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis and denied service connection for this condition. Service connection was granted for TMJ dysfunction, but it is characterized as mild left TMJ dysfunction.

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia was not warranted, and her increased evaluation claim for maxillary sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current sinusitis is not related to service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability such as the nasal tip laceration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial (compensable) rating for chronic sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence of moderate disability or incapacitating episodes as required by the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and sinusitis as they are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis. The issue of service connection for a back disorder remains pending and is being remanded to allow further development.

The veteran's HIV-related illness, seizures, and sinusitis are all found to be related to his service-connected HIV. The RO has granted a 30% rating for the HIV-related illness effective September 10, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar strain, left shoulder disorder, and chronic headaches are service-connected. The respiratory, sinus, and knee disorders have not been established as service-connected.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of sinusitis with residuals of a nose injury was denied. The Board found that the current rating of 30 percent adequately reflects the severity of his condition. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for mild saddlenose deformity with nasal tip collapse and floppiness. The veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a back disability was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 13, 1993, for his award of a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic health disorders allegedly caused by mercury in dental fillings and lead exposure during active duty.

The veteran's sinusitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the RO granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective from May 30, 1994.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and assigned a 30% rating effective from August 14, 2000. Service connection was not granted for blackout spells or hypoglycemia as claimed.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis was denied. The RO also did not grant any initial ratings for his deep vein thrombosis disabilities.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various sources.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for peptic ulcer disease at a hearing before the Board.