Sinusitis decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Capitol Regional Medical Center on May 20, 2006 and July 15, 2006 were denied as there was no emergency condition requiring immediate attention.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and assigned a non-compensable rating. For stress incontinence, the Board granted an initial compensable rating of 20 percent prior to November 21, 2006, and a higher rating of 40 percent since that date.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding that the veteran did not have a psychiatric disorder in service or develop one later. The chronic sinusitis claim was also denied as there is no evidence of current sinusitis related to service. Other conditions were not found to be service-connected.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development due to incomplete responses from the examiner who conducted a QTC examination in August 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis/rhinitis. The claims of service connection for a heart disorder and rheumatoid arthritis were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran died of pneumonia due to or as a consequence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. The service-connected conditions (PTSD, dermatomycosis, and sinusitis) did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death.,The appellant's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied because the veteran had not been rated as totally disabled for at least 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notice to the veteran regarding disability ratings and effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spondylosis with DDD, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma as secondary to the veteran's service-connected sinusitis and allergies.

The veteran's maxillary sinusitis required a one month period of convalescence after surgery, and the Board has granted a temporary total evaluation for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of evidence showing additional disability resulting from VA care, treatment, or examination.,Specifically, the Board determined that there is no competent evidence linking any current visual or sinus disability to the assault while hospitalized at a VA medical facility in August 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claim of chronic back injury residuals. The bilateral foot disorder was not shown to have started in service, and there is insufficient medical evidence to support a current diagnosis of PTSD or maxillary sinusitis with right frontal sinus osteoma and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and migraine headaches, finding that the veteran incurred these conditions during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The right ankle disability was rated at 20 percent, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis was noncompensable, and residuals of second degree right ankle sprain were also rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's appeals for service connection on all three issues have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as his claim for an increased rating for right knee disability. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions during service or in a presumptive period, and concluded that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current sinusitis disability and denied service connection for this condition. For the low back strain with bilateral sacroiliitis, the Board determined that the veteran's symptoms are not related to his military service and thus denied an increased rating.

The VA denied a higher initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under Diagnostic Code 6510.