Sinusitis decisions — 2008

The veteran's chronic maxillary sinusitis with antral fistula on the left side is granted a 50% rating, while his residuals of a fracture of the left zygomatic arch are denied a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and bronchitis with sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or illness leading to these conditions. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not related to military service.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 5, 1994 and April 30, 1996 for service connection were granted.,Effective from April 30, 1996, the veteran is entitled to a compensable disability rating for sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and current bilateral knee disability are related to service. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis for corneal damage with painful scar of the right eye or sinusitis. The veteran's claims for these conditions will be remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for post-traumatic nasal deformity with epistaxis and sinusitis, as there was no evidence of increased disability prior to December 3, 2004. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea and COPD remains pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchitis and sinusitis did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, which she claims are related to her active duty service. The VA has not provided a medical opinion on the etiology of these conditions or whether they are connected to her bronchitis disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current sinusitis and rhinitis are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, low back disability, and pes planus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, entitlement to service connection for cardiomyopathy, and a 10 percent disability rating for sinusitis prior to March 8, 2005. The veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of left shoulder surgery and a left knee disability. Service connection was denied for low back disability and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis with deviated nasal septum, and has also granted a rating in excess of the current 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The heart murmur is not considered a separate disability.

The veteran is granted a disability rating of 30 percent for chronic sinusitis and his claim for service connection for decreased vision is denied.

The Board granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis with residuals of a nose injury, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's earlier effective date claim for a 30 percent rating for service-connected sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The veteran's bilateral maxillary sinusitis with nasal polyps results in near constant symptoms, including headaches and pain. The Board finds the evidence to support a disability rating of 50 percent.