Sinusitis decisions — 2008

The veteran's sinusitis is not manifested by incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, and the scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The veteran's residual scar from right lumbar area cyst excision is rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have sinusitis related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for sinusitis and a 30 percent rating for saddle deformity of the nose with tip collapse, both effective July 17, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities played a material causal role in his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's service-connected sinusitis has not been manifested by one or two incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. Therefore, the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not related to his sinusitis. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the rating of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, skin disability (other than cysts), sinus disability (including allergic rhinitis), residuals of a broken nose, and pes planus are not related to his active service. The low back disability is related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety, sinusitis, a left knee disorder, vision problems and a left hip disorder as they were not related to the veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for depression as secondary to the chronic sinusitis and also found that a higher evaluation than 30 percent was not warranted for the veteran's chronic sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, pes planus, sinusitis, and arthritis as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current chronic sinus disorder or any other chronic sinus disorder proximately related to his inservice sinusitis, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches, but denied service connection for allergic rhinitis. The veteran's duodenal ulcer was rated at 20 percent, with no increase in rating.

The veteran's PTSD, major depressive disorder, and allergic rhinitis were all determined to be service-connected.

The Board granted service connection for bipolar disorder and denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for sinusitis.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent initial evaluation for allergic rhinitis, as the evidence showed partial nasal obstruction without polyps.

The appeal is remanded for additional development and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board granted service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied claims for service connection for neck and shoulder disabilities and an undiagnosed illness manifested by irritability, behavioral changes, insomnia, and fatigue. The claim for migraine headaches was deferred pending further development.

The veteran's lumbar degenerative disc and facet disease was rated at 20 percent, effective from October 19, 2007. The other issues remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cervical spine disability, and chronic sinusitis as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or sufficient evidence to link them to the veteran's active duty.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence related to the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of pneumonia, restrictive airway disease, and rhinitis.