Sinusitis decisions — 2006

The veteran withdrew his appeal concerning issues 2 through 9, leaving only the claims for major depressive disorder and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the claims for a compensable rating for retained metallic body of the right eye, service connection for rhinosinusitis and headaches secondary to the service-connected retained metallic body of the right eye. The appellant was found not to have established legal eligibility for a 10 percent rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and notification of missing records from the 1940s. The veteran's claims for service connection for dermatitis of the dorsal surface of the hands and sinusitis are pending.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support reopening his previously denied claim for tinnitus, as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as well as other conditions. The decision also noted that there was no significant progression in his hearing loss during service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, effective from the date of initial entitlement.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing with a local Decision Review Officer. The case will be returned to the Board after this action.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bronchial asthma and rhinosinusitis and pansinusitis, as the evidence does not support ratings higher than the current 30% and 10% respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis and an earlier effective date for his right shoulder bursitis disability rating. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of sinusitis, and that the veteran's functional loss due to pain did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating prior to August 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and DEA eligibility.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of higher ratings based on the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6522 due to the presence of only one polyp. The highest available rating is 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, residuals of a right great toe fracture, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and information regarding private medical treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for vasomotor rhinitis from April 26, 1999 to May 10, 2004 and granted a 30 percent rating thereafter. The current 30 percent rating is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis does not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as of May 18, 2004. The right ankle condition and fibromyalgia claims are not addressed due to lack of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service medical records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain and sinusitis, as well as his claim for an increased rating for postoperative calcific tendonitis of the left shoulder. The veteran was found to have thoracic outlet syndrome related to service but no current disability due to sinusitis. His left shoulder condition is currently rated 10%.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, sinusitis, and an adrenal cyst. The veteran's claim to reopen her adrenal cyst was also denied.