Sinusitis decisions — 2005

The Board has granted a higher initial rating for the veteran's anxiety disorder. The appeals seeking service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and chronic cervicitis have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected maxillary sinusitis and migraine headache condition, both currently rated at 30 percent. The effective date for the 30 percent rating of hiatal hernia with reflux, esophagitis, and gastritis remains July 8, 2004.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis with nasal septum deviation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for dental treatment, service connection for sprains of the left knee, ankle, and foot, low back strain, malar, maxillary, and mandibular fracture including malocclusion, and paranasal sinusitis. The appeals were based on inservice trauma but no new evidence was provided to support these claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, as well as his application to collaterally attack the final December 1998 rating decision that continued a 10 percent evaluation for seborrheic dermatitis. The issues of entitlement to increased compensation for maxillary sinusitis and anxiety disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis and headaches, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any time during the period of appeal.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues were denied. Additional development is needed to address the claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected maxillary sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations. The hypertension, fungal infection of the feet, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are all currently rated at the minimum compensable levels.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis. The issues pertaining to increased rating for rhinitis and entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic rhinosinusitis with mucous retention cyst was denied, and his PTSD claim was not substantiated due to lack of verified stressor.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the failure of the veteran to report to scheduled VA examinations. The RO is instructed to contact the veteran, obtain additional medical records, and reschedule him for a VA examination.

The veteran's sinusitis with mild septal deviation was initially evaluated as noncompensable prior to October 7, 1996. As of that date, the evaluation has been increased to 10 percent based on recurrent episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board found no evidence of a current left eye disorder, tinnitus, or sinusitis related to the veteran's active duty service. The preponderance of medical evidence indicates that these conditions did not occur during his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated by any disorder of service origin.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's current sinusitis, rhinitis, and bronchitis and his military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations due to new evidence submitted since his last rating decision. The claims are being reopened, but further examination is needed.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected sinusitis.