Sinusitis decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous examination with review of the claims file is necessary for both conditions, and remands the case back to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's deviated septum and turbinates, as well as his sinusitis, are related to service. The claim for loss of teeth due to dental trauma for VA outpatient treatment purposes is also granted.

The veteran's service-connected chronic low back pain with mild wedge compression and marginal spurs is rated at 10 percent since February 9, 2000.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and assigned a noncompensable rating from August 14, 2002. The veteran's symptoms have resulted in six or more non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge requiring ongoing use of antibiotics.

The veteran has withdrawn all her appeals, including those for various disabilities and service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left leg neuropathy, and sinusitis. The denial is based on a lack of credible supporting evidence corroborating the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD and because there is no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or any noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's upper respiratory disorder and sinusitis did not have its onset in military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected sinusitis from February 28, 1997 through November 15, 2004. The claim for increased evaluations of asthma is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dysphagia, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The VA examinations did not find current disabilities in these conditions.,For bilateral hearing loss, the VA examination showed Level I hearing in each ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, and left knee sprain have been granted service connection with initial 10 percent ratings effective June 20, 2004.,Service connection for adductor tendonitis of the left hip and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis has also been granted but without any compensable rating assigned.,The veteran's left knee sprain remains unassigned a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims for increased rating and TDIU. This includes obtaining recent VA medical records, Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits information, and any relevant SSA records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, heart disease and hypertension, and multiple joint disabilities including a bilateral knee disability, rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and a right ankle disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and boils, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for sinusitis, including sinus headaches, as it was first manifested during service. The claim for service connection for boils is also granted on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for interstitial lung disease and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, finding that the conditions were not related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and sinusitis, finding that they do not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an eye disability manifested by blurred vision are pending. The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in his initial rating decision is granted, resulting in a 50% disability rating for headaches effective December 1, 1994. However, service connection for sinusitis and an eye disability manifested by blurred vision are not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, atypical chest pain, and foot cramping. The decision found that while hypertension was incurred during service, the other conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a left great toe injury, bilateral knee pain, gastroenteritis, vaginal problems, and sinusitis. The appeals were based on direct evidence without any presumption or secondary linkage to prior conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic maxillary sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase.