Sinusitis decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic disability for which service connection could be granted, including left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, left knee and right knee disabilities, or right shoulder disability. The preponderance of evidence was against each claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, and chronic headaches. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to the claimed conditions, except for tinnitus which was established as being related to service.

The veteran's service-connected status post open repair, avulsion of the flexor tendon of the right ring finger (minor) is granted with a noncompensable evaluation.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic sinusitis and an initial compensable evaluation for her chronic allergic rhinitis, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions during active service or at the most recent VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for chronic sinusitis, currently rated at 30 percent disabling, was denied by the Board. The evidence showed that the veteran had at least three incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment and more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. However, there was no objective evidence of chronic osteomyelitis or nearly constant sinusitis characterized by these symptoms.

The Board found no evidence of chronic residuals for the claimed conditions and denied service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no current diagnosed sinusitis or evidence of a service-connected condition. The RO granted service connection in April 2001 but did not address the issues on appeal.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for sinusitis and denied the claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis, finding that his symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of chronic rhinitis is unrelated to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and allergic rhinitis, both of which were previously denied in February 1983. The decision is final.

The Board denied service connection for deteriorating vision, granted service connection and awarded a 20 percent disability rating for TMJ, and awarded noncompensable initial ratings for headaches and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for chronic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's allergic sinusitis and gastritis do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, while his hemorrhoids are rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), chronic sinusitis, bladder neck contracture with median lobe hypertrophy, bilateral defective hearing, chronic tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, a skin disorder, unspecified dental condition, and a disorder characterized by loss of libido or sex drive. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in service or as the result of exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical records from a VA facility in San Jose. The case will be reviewed again after these documents are added to the file.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his chronic sinusitis, right knee laxity and degenerative joint disease, or left ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, bursitis of the right shoulder, degenerative changes in the cervical spine, hearing loss of the left ear, pansinusitis, diverticulum of the esophagus and duodenum, and heel spurs of the right os calcis. The veteran was not shown to have been exposed to Agent Orange during service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and right nasal obstruction warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it does not meet criteria for higher ratings.