Sinusitis decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during her active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated as noncompensable.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection. The increased rating claim was also denied.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has been evaluated as noncompensable since March 2005. The VA examinations and private treatment records do not show any polyps, but there is some obstruction of the nasal passages on both sides. As a result, the claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional action, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, vascular headache syndrome, and pituitary adenoma were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for sinusitis or a rating in excess of 10 percent for vascular headache syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis has been shown to approximate three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, and approximately six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis. The Board finds that the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing at the Newark, New Jersey RO.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and GERD are currently rated at the lowest possible levels. The Board finds that there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or significant symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to assess his employability and consideration of whether he meets the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected disabilities, including her left hip and spine conditions, which together with the residuals of her organic injuries so affect her balance that she cannot locomote without a cane or walker. The criteria for specially adapted housing assistance have been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The recurrent vesicular eruption of the feet was rated noncompensably (0 percent) disabling, and the sinusitis was also rated noncompensably (0 percent) disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD, but did not meet the criteria for higher initial or increased disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and allergic rhinitis. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus is August 17, 2005.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, cystic fibrosis in the breast, and bilateral radiculopathy of the upper extremities. The claim for increased rating for sinusitis was also denied. The claim for compensable rating for status post left tympanic membrane operation (claimed as cholesteatoma) and left ear hearing loss were not addressed due to a separate issue with cystic fibrosis in the breast.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, chronic sinusitis, and hearing loss are being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder bursitis and sinusitis were granted increased ratings, with the right shoulder rating set at 10 percent effective October 9, 2009.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are both rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, hemorrhoids, migraine headaches (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), and allergic rhinitis was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability at any time during the course of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.