Sinusitis decisions — 2006

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 26, 2003. His degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee are both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. His surgical scar of the left 7th rib is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. His eczema is also rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's chronic sinusitis, including headaches and pain with purulent discharge or crusting, is currently manifested by more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year. The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims.

The veteran's sinusitis with headaches is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the hands and feet are denied as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis and laryngitis both originated during a period of active duty for training. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The claim for an increased rating for chronic tonsillitis, status post tonsillectomy, remains unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for a septal perforation as a residual of postoperative status from septoplasty and assigned a 30 percent rating for sinusitis since January 1, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and residuals of pneumothorax. The decision found that tinnitus resulted from acoustic trauma in service, but there was no evidence of a current disability related to residuals of pneumothorax or allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, meningioma, and duodenal ulcer. The increased rating claim for residuals of fracture of the right elbow with residual traumatic arthritis was granted to a 20 percent evaluation effective from March 1983. The increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis remained denied.

The Board has found that the veteran's CTS in both hands and wrists, lower back disability including sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and sinusitis are all service-connected.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent effective September 4, 2003.,Prior to July 4, 2002, the veteran was not entitled to a higher evaluation for his asthma. From July 4, 2002, he is now rated at 60 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the diagnostic criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome effective as of September 26, 2003.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to clarify the current diagnoses and determine if any currently diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder, including gastritis and GERD, are causally related to the veteran's active military service. The veteran will be provided with an examination for this purpose.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU, but granted an effective date of September 20, 2000 for a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected low back strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, hearing loss, and service connection for various conditions. The appeals were not successful.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis, as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and left wrist ganglionectomy residuals have been denied. The RO has already assigned the maximum available benefit of 10 percent for each condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed rhinitis and sinusitis are not etiologically related to his active military service, nor can they be considered secondary to his service-connected nasal fracture. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased rating for his service-connected sinusitis, as the medical evidence did not show more than one or two incapacitating episodes per year necessitating prolonged antibiotic treatment lasting 4 to 6 weeks.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current throat, eye, nasal, neck, or low back disability for which service connection can be granted based on direct evidence. The available medical records do not show any nexus between his military service and these disabilities.