Sinusitis decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining verification of service dates, scheduling VA examinations for respiratory, ear, and psychiatric conditions, and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for asbestosis and service connection for his respiratory conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and notification of relevant regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bursitis of the right shoulder, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis), right ankle pain, and mitral valve regurgitation. The initial ratings assigned for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis at L1-2 and L2-3, hepatitis B, residuals of a stress fracture of the right lower leg, and residuals of a stress fracture of the left lower leg were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for sinusitis, a right elbow condition, and cellulitis and trismus of the right face and neck due to lack of medical nexus evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by high cholesterol and therefore, her claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, sinusitis, and COPD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings, special monthly compensation, and TDIU were denied. Retroactive payment for disability compensation at a rate with one dependent as a result of school attendance was also denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened, and his claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, residuals of nasal fracture, dermatitis of the back, and right wrist ganglion cyst were denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for sinusitis is set at February 23, 2005.,The veteran's claim for an increase in rating for his service-connected residuals of a nasal fracture was granted with an effective date of September 20, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran and her representative, requiring further review of the claim.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for bronchial asthma, effective from the date of the decision. The other claims remain pending.

The Board has determined that the criteria for reimbursement or payment by VA of the cost of emergency medical services provided at Doctors Medical Center on May 29-30, 2005 have been met. The appeal is therefore granted.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disorder, acid reflux disease (GERD), low back disorder, hip disorder, testicular pain, ankle disorder, legs/thigh disorder, bronchitis, recurring hives with sweating, and sinusitis. The veteran did not provide a specific NOD regarding these denied issues.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions, a disability evaluation for migraine headaches, and a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. The decision is mixed as some claims are granted while others are denied.

The veteran's increased ratings for herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were granted. The other conditions remained at noncompensable or zero percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete notice and examination reports. The veteran's service records, including those from her eye surgery, need to be obtained and reviewed.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current heart condition to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The other issues were not addressed as they were withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board found that the veteran's current hypoxemia and sinusitis were not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted effective November 8, 2001.

The veteran's sinusitis with rhinitis was granted an initial rating of 30 percent, effective from February 1, 2004. Her migraines and hypothyroidism were not addressed as the appeal is limited to her sinus condition.