Sinusitis decisions — 2008

The veteran's tinnitus and chronic sinusitis were not found to be related to service, leading to a denial of the claims. The hearing loss claim was remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right (major) shoulder capsulitis with bursitis, sinusitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including adjustment disorder. The decision found no competent evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to active service.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and skin cancer of the face and forearms. The veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.,The Board found that there was no evidence to support a relationship between the veteran's military service and his death, nor did it find any evidence suggesting that the veteran's death was caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or hay fever, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left foot, left hand, and sinusitis disabilities were granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis, and is granting the claim on a grant of direct service connection. The claims for loss of sense of smell and sinusitis are remanded as further medical examination and development are needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims for service connection for a chronic disability of the sinuses, arthritis, paranoid schizophrenia, and defective vision. The veteran's contentions were deemed insufficient to meet the criteria for reopening these previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his low back disorder, reactive airway disease, and sinusitis with headaches were denied. Service connection for hypertension was also denied. The veteran's currently diagnosed conditions are not related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and residuals of bronchitis and/or pneumonia, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for sinusitis. The Board also found that there was no medical evidence linking any current respiratory conditions to military service.

The veteran's hemorrhoids are currently rated as noncompensable, and his chronic maxillary sinusitis is rated at 10 percent. The claim for residuals of a left ankle injury remains unresolved.,New evidence submitted since the last rating decision suggests that the veteran's in-service ankle injury may have aggravated an existing condition (varicose veins), potentially reopening the service connection claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of his claim for right shoulder strain. The other conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an earlier unadjudicated formal or informal claim for the effective dates sought. The veteran's claims were denied as they are based on a direct service connection, not reopening of previously denied claims.

The veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility were granted effective October 11, 2006. The Board denied an earlier effective date for these benefits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist condition, lumbar disorder, and sinusitis due to lack of current medical evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to herbicide exposure, were denied. The effective dates for some of the conditions and ratings are established but not earlier than specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's migraine headaches were aggravated by her second period of active duty service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of allergic rhinitis was denied. The Board granted the reopening of his previously denied claim for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda due to Agent Orange exposure, but remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD.,Further development is needed to determine whether the veteran's stressor statements are corroborated and to conduct a VA dermatological examination to assess any skin disability.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, as well as sinusitis, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records.