Sinusitis decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any other incident of service.

The Board finds that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including those related to exposure to ionizing radiation, are not service-connected as they were not present in service or until many years thereafter and are not related to his reported in-service exposure.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation which is sedentary in nature. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for left maxillary sinusitis and service connection for hysterectomy and allergic rhinitis, right nostril. The claim for an increased rating was based on the veteran's symptoms not meeting the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis, status post nasal polyp removal.

The veteran's migraine headaches, prostate disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diverticulitis, bilateral knee disorder, respiratory disorders including sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis, and nasal polyps are all found to be related to service. The veteran was not exposed to radiation during service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if the veteran was exposed to herbicides during service. The claims for service connection will be adjudicated based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current chronic sinusitis condition related to his service, and thus service connection for maxillary sinusitis is denied.

The veteran claims that his chronic sinusitis began during service. The RO has requested additional service medical records and post-service treatment records to determine if there were any instances of sinusitis in service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic female problems, claimed as status-post hysterectomy, chronic bladder problems, urinary frequency and stress incontinence; residuals of a head injury to include headaches; and sinusitis. The appellant's claims were not supported by evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinusitis.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of service records and examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and reviewing additional medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected disabilities, finding that none of the conditions met the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating schedules.

The veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The veteran's chronic sinusitis is currently rated as non-compensably disabling, but meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating based on four episodes per year of headaches and pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of a scar warranting a higher rating or any other condition that would justify an increase in evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disorder presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and sinusitis. The veteran's current conditions were not found to be directly related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not preclude him from gainful employment, as he is only restricted to light work duty status and requires frequent breaks. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and labyrinthitis and Meniere's disease with tinnitus was granted, effective November 6, 2000. The initial evaluation of the latter condition remains at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition, with osteoarthritic changes of the acromioclavicular joint, warrants a 20 percent evaluation. The sinusitis issue is not addressed as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.