Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her service connection claims, including obtaining her service medical records and any pertinent evidence from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and a 30 percent disability rating for service-connected sinusitis, effective from December 30, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there are no three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,VA examinations found no current evidence of sinusitis during active duty.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,Service-connected conditions include lumbosacral strain, chondromalacia of the right and left knees, headaches, hypertension, conjunctivitis, COPD, perirectal abscess, right foot calluses, rhinitis/sinusitis, bilateral flat feet, sleep disorder, hearing loss, ankle condition, wrist condition, shin splints, positive TB test, hyperlipidemia, and left foot tendonitis.

The veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD and is granted service connection for this condition.,Headaches, myofascial disease with left occipital nerve involvement, hiatal hernia with esophagitis, and chronic sinusitis are not considered to be related to active duty service due to lack of objective evidence or medical support.,Fatigue is not considered a qualifying chronic disability for the purposes of presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317(a)(2).,Blood in stool is not considered a qualifying chronic disability for the purposes of presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317(a)(2).

The veteran requested to withdraw her appeal regarding the issues of sinusitis, allergies, hearing loss, otitis media, and tendonitis of the bilateral feet and ankles. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, bilateral genu varus (claimed as trench foot), tinnitus, left leg condition, right arm condition, and head condition. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis, which was previously denied in May 1982. The additional evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vaginitis with moniliasis, bilateral axillary adenitis, chronic urinary tract infections, sinusitis, fibrocystic breast disease, a left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability), diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral foot condition. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis since October 22, 2005 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder. The hypertension claim was granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The veteran's sinusitis, which was manifested by frequent recurrences of severe symptoms such as headaches, pain, nasal discharge, and resistance to antibiotics after repeated procedures, is now rated at the maximum schedular evaluation (50%) due to its severity.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his septectomy residuals, finding that the current 10 percent disability rating is appropriate given the lack of evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. However, his claim for anxiety neurosis was reopened and granted, as were the claims for vertigo resulting in loss of balance with broken bones and arthritis.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient incapacitating episodes.,For the period prior to May 4, 2005, the veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent. After May 4, 2005, it is rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection on appeal have been denied. The Board is unable to adjudicate the matters due to incomplete records and remands are requested.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current sinusitis, back disability, or bilateral hearing loss disability. The service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the glioblastoma was not related to his service and did not contribute to his death.