Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral iritis, deviated nasal septum, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic rhinitis, a condition previously diagnosed during service, is service-connected. The decision also acknowledges the presence of sinusitis but finds insufficient evidence to support a current diagnosis.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis or Barrett's esophagus with GERD, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.,There is no evidence showing that the veteran had any complaints or findings related to sinusitis or Barrett's esophagus during his period of active service. The Board also finds that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that either condition was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis began in service and is related to her military service. The back disorder, however, did not begin during service and is not service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of coronary artery disease and an increased rating for chronic ethmoidal and maxillary sinusitis on the right, finding insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, urinary tract infections, and bilateral foot disabilities. The veteran was granted a 10% rating for atopic dermatitis effective October 24, 2005.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his low back disability, sinusitis, and headaches were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) on the issue of an increased rating for schizoaffective disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of a timely substantive appeal following the issuance of the June 1995 statement of case. The Board found that his December 20, 1995 submission was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for chronic nasal congestion, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as an eye disability (previously characterized as optic neuritis), are granted. The veteran is also granted a zero percent rating for her service-connected seborrheic dermatitis.

The Board has denied service connection for a liver disorder, bilateral chondromalacia, hair loss and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for these conditions are pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's sinusitis with headaches is productive of symptoms such as headaches, congestion, purulent discharge, and sinus infection but does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, nasal polyps, and asthma. The Board found that new evidence supports these claims, including medical opinions linking the conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, alcoholism, borderline personality disorder, left hip iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip iliopsoas tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain. The veteran will be notified if further action is required on her part.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis with headaches, effective from the date of the initial grant of service connection. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected traumatic sinusitis. The veteran was previously awarded a noncompensable rating in 1977 due to failure to report for a scheduled examination, but this decision became final as he did not appeal it within one year.

The Board denied an increased rating for sinusitis, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the evidence is new and material, thus reopening the claim for service connection for sinusitis. However, the VA medical examination found no current diagnosis of sinusitis, leading to a denial of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, varicose veins, bilateral foot disability, otitis media, inguinal hernia, or left testicle varicocele. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed from the veteran's VA medical centers and Social Security Administration to properly assess his claims. The veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine if his disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his inservice head injury.