Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than zero percent due to well-controlled blood pressure readings without continuous medication.,Sinusitis has been evaluated at the 10% level based on four non-incapacitating episodes per year with purulent discharge, headaches, and sinus pain.

The Board has determined that additional action is required to address the veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a medical examination. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic sinusitis present in service and no competent opinion linking current allergic rhinitis to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting low back disorder was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Blake Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital, finding that there was no emergency condition warranting non-VA treatment and that VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, sinusitis, residuals of a left eardrum injury, or residuals of head trauma to include headaches, dizziness, and impaired cognitive function. The evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.,Service records do not show treatment for any of these conditions during active duty.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, effective from August 9, 1994.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and a need for medical examinations.

The veteran's sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for accrued benefits as there were no incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis prior to his death.

The Board found that the effective date for the TDIU should be December 19, 2002, as this was the earliest date on which it could be factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board found that a TDIU was not warranted and denied the claim. The effective date for the grant of a 50 percent rating for post-traumatic nasal deformity with epistaxis and sinusitis remains unchanged at December 3, 2004.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. The residuals of a left hamstring tear are not shown to have been present in service or at any time thereafter.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, lung disorder, and sinusitis. The claim for skin disorder was not addressed as it is unclear if it was reopened or not.

The veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis are manifested by recurring non-incapacitating seasonal episodes of drainage, red eyes, headaches, and sinus pain at the rate of four per year that last four to five days. The conditions do not meet criteria for higher ratings due to severe symptoms or frequent incapacitating episodes.

The veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the issues for left knee pain, sinusitis, otitis media, fibrocystic disease of the breast, and costochondritis are all granted with specific evaluations.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied because she is not considered to be in 'good health,' as her non-service-connected conditions exceed the required threshold.

The veteran's claims for service connection and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The veteran received unauthorized medical care for an eye infection at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas due to a delay in seeking treatment from VA. The Board found that the emergency situation was hazardous and that no other feasible option existed, thus granting payment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis is manifested by symptoms grossly resolved and does not warrant a compensable rating. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.