Sinusitis decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a right ankle disability, rhinitis, left inguinal hernia, and epigastric hernia. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for maxillary sinusitis as there is no current diagnosis of chronic maxillary sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for a vascular disability, tinnitus, and rhinitis. The Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board found that the submitted evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and thus, the claim may not be reopened.

The Veteran's sinusitis with vasomotor rhinitis and allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis. The Board found that he did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of incapacitating episodes or surgeries.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for chronic sinusitis was granted, and he was awarded service connection for depression and sleep apnea (claimed as sleep problems) due to an undiagnosed illness related to his Gulf War service. The low back disorder claim is pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected sino-rhinitis was denied as the evidence did not show more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with resultant neuroma and left ganglion cyst disability is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a hearing loss disability of the right ear within the meaning of VA regulations, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for sinusitis was also denied as there is no evidence to support its current existence or relationship to service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent effective May 31, 2006. The evidence shows that the Veteran experiences at least six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and assigned a 10 percent disability rating, effective October 18, 1996. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and shoulder injury, finding no evidence of a link to active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of epididymal orchitis and chronic tinea manuum, but denied service connection for other conditions. The Veteran is not shown to have a current disability manifested by hyperlipidemia.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his sinus, right elbow, right knee, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence to support a higher evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and sinusitis, finding that there is no medical evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting further examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's service connection claims, finding that her initial claims were submitted after her discharge from active duty and thus not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and lumbar strain were all granted with effective dates of June 9, 2002. The Veteran was awarded a noncompensable evaluation for his service-connected eye disability. His initial compensable evaluation for lumbar strain was assigned on May 19, 2003.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been shown to meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation, as evidenced by more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of symptoms such as headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's combined evaluation for service-connected disabilities is 80 percent from June 20, 2000 to June 10, 2004, and 90 percent from June 11, 2004. The criteria for assignment of an increased combined evaluation are not met.