Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected spastic colon and sinusitis are not entitled to increased ratings or service connection, respectively. The veteran's claims were denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was received on July 26, 1999. The Board granted the claim in June 2004 and assigned a 10% rating effective from that date. The veteran requested an earlier effective date but the Board denied this request as there is no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to service connection for sinusitis within one year of discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted an initial, noncompensable rating for chronic sinusitis with right deviated nasal septum. The veteran is seeking a higher initial rating for his sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an initial compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for sinusitis. The Board also found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for her allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and a compensable evaluation for the right little finger fracture. The veteran's sinusitis was not shown to be related to active duty, while his right little finger disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the veteran's service-connected sinusitis and its impact on his other claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; a sleep disorder (claimed as narcolepsy and/or sleep apnea); and sinusitis. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have a deviated nasal septum or sinusitis, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing his pre-existing rhinitis was aggravated by service. The Board also determined that gastroesophageal reflux disease and non-ulcerating dyspepsia are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, and PTSD due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected sinusitis, left shoulder disorder, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for hypothyroidism and service connection for patello-femoral syndrome, right knee; sinusitis; sore joints (undiagnosed illness); cervical spine degenerative arthritis (undiagnosed illness); and edema (claimed as fluid retention in legs).

The veteran's service connection claims for upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, left wrist strain, osteophytes of the right hip, gastritis, degenerative changes and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, spondylitic disc disease of the cervical spine, tendonitis of the left elbow, and tendonitis of the right elbow have been granted. The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected conditions has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred right foot painful heel pad with plantar fasciitis, hemorrhoids, and sinusitis during his service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his rhinosinusitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent prior to November 17, 2006 and a rating higher than 30 percent from that date onwards.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a Cesarian section (C-section), recurrent sinusitis, recurrent rhinitis, lumbar strain, and hypertension have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a detailed employment history from the veteran and scheduling him for appropriate VA examination(s) to determine his employability given his non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further proceedings, including scheduling a VA examination and requesting clarification of the veteran's employment history. The veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as a whole.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right eye condition (claimed as homonymous hemianopsia), tension headaches, dizziness, and residuals of a head injury. The appeals were based on in-service accidents but no current disabilities are linked to those incidents.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and rheumatic heart disease. The VA will need to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, eye injury and corneal abrasions, and sinusitis. The evidence submitted since the previous denials did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.