Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder due to new and material evidence, but denied the claim for sinusitis.,There is no persuasive medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of cervical spine pain or sinusitis, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The veteran was diagnosed with migraines in October 2005, which is considered new evidence related to her headaches condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for chronic sinusitis, finding that the veteran's condition results in more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and sinusitis cannot be granted as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions are not related to active service and did not arise from an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection for chest pain, left knee disability, right foot disability, and left hip disability. The veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis was denied as there was no current chronic condition related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or three to six non-incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations have been remanded to the RO for a hearing and further review. The case will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is granted as the condition was present during service and related to service.

The veteran's sinusitis and tension headaches were evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes or prostrating attacks.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of more medical records.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to increased initial evaluations for his service-connected right knee disabilities was not addressed.,Service connection for sinusitis and a psychiatric disability were denied as the evidence did not show such conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate/urinary tract disability, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for sinus disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been denied. The veteran does not have a chronic prostate/urinary tract disability related to active service, and his sinus disability is not productive of the required criteria for an increased rating.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him incapable of gainful employment, and the evidence does not warrant referral for consideration of individual unemployability on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board finds that the unauthorized medical services provided on December 24, 2003, constituted a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health. Therefore, the criteria for payment or reimbursement are met.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for a VA examination and additional development of the evidence.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for fibrocystic breast disease, sinusitis, bronchitis, and thoracic spine disorder. The claim for increased rating of hemorrhoids was denied.

The veteran seeks increased ratings for his service-connected low back, left Achilles tendon, left radius, and left chest disabilities. He also seeks service connection for a left leg disability.,The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left Achilles tendon condition. The RO denied this claim in the April 2003 decision.,The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left radius condition. The RO denied this claim in the April 2003 decision.,The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left chest condition. The RO denied this claim in the April 2003 decision.,The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected left neck condition. The RO denied this claim in the April 2003 decision.,The veteran seeks a compensable rating for his service-connected generalized periodontitis. The RO denied this claim in the April 2003 decision.,The veteran seeks service connection for a left leg disability, apart from his already-service connected left Achilles tendon condition and left leg scarring. The RO denied this claim in the April 2003 decision.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of his hypertension claim were denied. His left wrist synovitis was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of limitation of motion or clinically significant functional impairment due to pain.