Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis with headaches, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or frequent episodes of bowel disturbances warranting higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right hip disorder or left hip disorder related to her active service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete personnel records and insufficient examination reports.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine condition remains at 20 percent, sinusitis at 10 percent, wrist fracture with arthritis at 10 percent, and recurrent central serous retinopathy of the right eye was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, effective from May 1, 1985, to January 30, 1989. The veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The claim for service connection for GERD is granted as secondary to medications taken for his service-connected disability.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for depression, reopened claims for service connection for various conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral polyneuropathy of the legs, and denied other issues.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial rating of more than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to incomplete information from a previous VA examination.

The veteran's sinusitis is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board finds that a compensable rating of 10% is warranted based on multiple episodes per year with symptoms such as headaches and purulent discharge or crusting.,Guillain-Barre Syndrome was not incurred in service and is not related to any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sterility as secondary to radiation exposure. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sinusitis more closely approximates three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting than sinusitis detected by x-ray only. Therefore, a 10 percent evaluation is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing post-service treatment records and for medical examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current low back disorder and sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her migraine headaches was granted, with a current rating of 50 percent.,The veteran's right maxillary sinusitis resulted in cysts or polyps and is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, are denied. The medical evidence does not support the presence of chronic disabilities that meet the criteria for service connection under VA regulations.

The veteran's chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is manifested by three or more incapacitating episodes per year, characterized by sinus pressure, tenderness, nasal discharge, and headaches, requiring prolonged treatment with antibiotics. The Board has determined that the disability warrants a 30 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, oropharyngeal airway restriction (claimed as a respiratory disorder), and sleep apnea. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic conditions during service or otherwise related to military service.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral foot pain, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, chronic sinusitis, lipomatous lesion of the left shoulder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, tinnitus, depressive disorder, and hypertension, have been evaluated. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a combined 100 percent schedular rating under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Therefore, his claim for permanent and total disability rating for VA non-service-connected pension purposes has been denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected rhinosinusitis, effective from February 1992.