Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for residuals of a neck injury and residuals of a left shoulder injury were denied as not timely appealed. The new evidence does not refute the prior determination that these injuries pre-existed service.,Service connection was denied for sinusitis, headaches, and peripheral vascular disease due to lack of objective indications of chronic disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an increased rating for sinusitis, finding that there is no evidence of a separate condition from his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a deviated nasal septum and denied service connection for this condition. The other claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current respiratory disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial rating of 50 percent. The claim for sinusitis/pharyngitis was reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no current chronic bronchitis or rhinitis, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral lung condition, depression, anxiety disorder, headaches secondary to sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The veteran withdrew her appeals for increased evaluations of her mental disorder, maxillary sinusitis, and acne vulgaris before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran was granted a TDIU and DEA benefits effective March 18, 2000. The RO assigned an effective date of January 13, 2000 for the grant of these benefits.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected asthma, bunionectomies with arthritis, and sinusitis have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for chronic suppurative otitis media and frontal sinusitis, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including Bell's palsy, migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, and a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's treatment at Indiana Heart Physicians, Morgan County Memorial Hospital, and Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group was not due to emergent circumstances and VA medical services were reasonably available. Therefore, reimbursement for these instances of unauthorized medical expenses is granted.

The VA denied an increased rating for sinusitis, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia of the left lung and sinusitis with headaches were denied. The claim for an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease with Schatzki's ring and hiatal hernia with stricture was granted, but only up to a 30 percent disability rating from May 6, 2005.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, the maximum available under current criteria.,The psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder) is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The RO increased this rating to 30 percent in November 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, sinusitis, and skin disorders including tinea pedis, tinea versicolor, and tinea cruris. The veteran's gastritis with duodenitis and cholelithiasis, status post cholecystectomy, was not related to his active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for hypertension or a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative excision, condyle, right fifth metatarsal callous. His claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's maxillary sinusitis warrants a 10 percent disability rating, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Board denied the veteran's earlier claim for a TDIU in January 1991. The evidence of record prior to March 25, 1991, did not show that the veteran was precluded from all forms of gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.