Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and anxiety. The claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The veteran's right Achilles tendonitis is granted service connection as it is directly related to her service-connected plantar fasciitis. The veteran's sinusitis claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence of a current disability manifesting in service.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated at the maximum schedular evaluations, and no higher ratings are warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for allergies and for increased ratings for sinusitis with rhinitis and sinus headaches, as well as for a meniscal tear of the right knee. The appeals were based on his self-reported history of allergies that worsened during active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for fibrocystic disease, right breast and sinusitis were denied. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability evaluation for tendonitis, right wrist and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, stress fracture, left heel were also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis and vascular headaches were denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or very frequent prostrating attacks.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted, with the exception of her claim for service connection for arthritis of the left foot. The rating for her left distal fibula fracture remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and dysentery, finding no current diagnosis or evidence of a chronic condition in service.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not service-connected.,His sinusitis has been rated as 30 percent disabling, and the evidence does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum and found that the current condition is likely related to service. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left ankles, as well as his PTSD claim, are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current disabilities related to his in-service injuries or eye procedures. The evidence does not support a grant of service connection.

The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent before September 12, 2002, and a rating higher than 50 percent from September 12, 2002, for sinusitis and migraine headaches. The current rating of 50 percent is the maximum schedular rating.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for sinusitis, as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for sinusitis is granted as there was a diagnosis of sinusitis during service and ongoing symptoms since service.

The veteran's sinusitis has been rated as 10 percent disabling since August 13, 2002. The RO granted service connection for the right proximal fifth metacarpal bone fracture and assigned a noncompensable disability rating.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected residuals of a fractured nose and sinusitis, as well as entitlement to a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's claims for various orthopedic and psychiatric conditions were denied as the evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 27, 2004. The Board found no evidence of a current skin rash or sinusitis that was manifest during active service or developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. Right and left foot calluses were also not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye condition, cervical spine condition, low back condition, bilateral varicose veins, and scoliosis of the thoracic spine. The reasons were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right shoulder disorder or sinusitis that is related to his service. The claims for service connection are denied.