Sinusitis decisions — 2008

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and a left ankle disorder, but granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% disability rating.

The Board has ordered the VA to locate the veteran's service medical records and attempt to reconstruct them. The claims for reopening a claim for asbestosis, secondary service connection for sinusitis, and secondary service connection for headaches are pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims file.

The veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis and bronchitis, finding that they are not related to his military service. The appeal was decided on a direct basis as there were no diagnoses of these conditions during or shortly after his active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis were not incurred or aggravated in service, nor are they caused by a service-connected condition. The claim is therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings for sinusitis, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and a scar resulting from excision of a left axillary mass were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's death was not caused by or related to any service-connected disability, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's syndrome, chronic rhinosinusitis/sinusitis, residuals of cold weather trauma, residuals of carbon tetrachloride exposure, and depression. The appeals were based on secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability and failed to restore service connection for dyshidrotic eczema.

The Board finds that the appellant does not have service connection for rhinitis, status post rhinoplasty or sinusitis.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, broken nose/deviated septum, fractured jaw and broken teeth, or sinusitis. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The veteran's IBS was granted a 30 percent rating, the maximum available under VA regulations. Her sinusitis was granted a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and chronic sinusitis, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions during service and concluded that there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between the current disabilities and military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional procedural and evidentiary development, including proper VCAA notice and a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his headaches.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and fracture of the left ankle with calcaneal spur during a hearing. The claim for lower jaw odontia with tooth loss was not granted as it did not meet the requirements for service connection.

The Board previously denied service connection for a chronic sinus disorder. The veteran's claim is remanded to determine if there is evidence of a chronic sinus disorder in service or post-service.,Service connection has been granted for allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's claims for service connection were previously denied due to lack of medical records. The RO has ordered additional examinations and requested VA medical records, and the case is now remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings for her service-connected right ear hearing loss, rhinitis, and sinusitis. The RO found that none of these conditions warranted a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.