Sinusitis decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that there is no current medical evidence of allergic rhinitis, and thus the veteran's claim for service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, depression, PTSD, poor circulation in the left leg, and diabetes mellitus, all allegedly due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered additional development of his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired low back disability, higher initial ratings for bilateral inguinal hernia and nasal obstruction with related chronic sinusitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and secondary service connection for sinusitis, as well as a compensable evaluation for his residuals of gunshot wound scars. The decision also noted that the veteran's claim for service connection was remanded.

The veteran's reactive airway disease is rated at 30 percent, and he has been granted service connection for a small patent foramen ovale. Other claims of service connection are denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication of his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active service and are not related to nicotine dependence acquired during service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current sinusitis to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of arthritis of the right shoulder or sinusitis, and there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service. As such, both claims for service connection are denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for sinusitis, laryngitis, and a compensable disability rating for chronic tonsillitis are pending.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus from November 25, 1997 to December 11, 1998, and later increased the evaluation to 30 percent effective December 11, 1998. Service connection for tinnitus and scalp dermatitis were also denied.

The veteran's conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, mild restrictive lung disease, erectile dysfunction, left shoulder dislocation, sinusitis, left ankle instability, and right ankle instability, are all found to be service-connected. The initial disability ratings for subacromial impingement of the left shoulder, urticaria, and sinusitis have been granted at noncompensable levels.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, but the veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation remains pending.

The veteran's application for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected conditions of atrophic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis, which do not qualify under the specific provisions for such grants.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic sinusitis. The appeals for increased ratings for left shoulder impingement syndrome and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for his sinusitis and a 10 percent evaluation for his thoracic spondylitis, effective from January 31, 1998.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for chronic sinusitis as there was no evidence showing the veteran had one or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The veteran's appeal from September 2000 and November 2000 rating decisions concerning claims for sinusitis, malaria, and left varicocele was timely filed. The issues of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for sinusitis, and entitlement to compensable ratings for malaria and left varicocele are REMANDED.