Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, colon cancer, hypertension, and sinusitis. The decision also addressed his claim seeking an increased disability rating for residuals of left clavicle fracture.

The Board denied increased ratings for chronic bronchitis and chronic sinusitis, but granted a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a contusion of the left forehead, migraine headaches, sinusitis, and injuries to the right wrist, left foot, back, neck, and nerve damage. The Board found no current disabilities related to these issues and noted that many of the claimed conditions were first diagnosed years after service.

The veteran's myofasciitis of the neck and upper back is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under current criteria.,The veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected sinusitis and allergies, maintaining a current non-compensable (zero percent) disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin condition (claimed as acne), sinusitis, bronchitis, right knee condition with arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals are currently pending due to the need for further development of the hypertension claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The veteran's right knee disability is being evaluated again, and his claims for service connection for rhinitis are also under review.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis based on new and material evidence. The case is further addressed in the remand.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and myopia, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of chronic allergic rhinosinusitis as secondary to his service-connected disability, finding that there was no evidence linking the current condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder is rated at 50 percent, GERD and IBS are each rated at 10 percent, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee is rated at 10 percent based on limited range of motion due to pain, and right knee laxity is rated at 10 percent. Sinusitis has not been assigned a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's heel spur pre-existed service and if PTSD was incurred in-service. The claims of service connection for depression, residuals of blunt trauma to the abdomen, and sinusitis are also being remanded.

The veteran's nasal fracture and chronic maxillary sinusitis have been rated at 30 percent since October 6, 1997. The current rating remains on appeal as the maximum available disability evaluation has not yet been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current right ankle or sinusitis disabilities and there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain and respiratory disability claimed as sinusitis are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for sinusitis. The decision is mixed as it grants one claim and denies another.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his claims for residuals of right ear surgery, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are denied as there is no evidence to support a current disability.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic sinusitis disability as a result of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of sinusitis with headaches and defective vision were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.