Sinusitis decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, rhinitis, and sinus disorder with headaches. Service connection is denied for deflection of the nasal septum and residuals of nose surgery (septectomy).

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sinusitis with chronic allergic rhinitis is currently rated as noncompensable due to the lack of incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or multiple non-incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran's hypertension and allergic rhinitis are not associated with herbicide exposure, but the Veteran is still entitled to direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been granted service connection, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are pending. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss is also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD, rhinosinusitis, and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is attributable to service and granted service connection. The hypertension issue remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic sinusitis and bronchitis disability during service or that it developed as a result of any established event, injury, or disease during active service. The Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptomatology were inconsistent with the available medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hemorrhoids, sinusitis, and dermatophytosis of the right thigh and groin region as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by chronic sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing not being held and other procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for metabolic syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, gout, arthritis, rhinitis, and hypertension. The claim for PTSD was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective July 23, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum and chronic sinusitis have been rated at the maximum available under current diagnostic codes. The claim for increased evaluation of chronic sinusitis is denied as there are no more than three incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as asthma and bronchitis. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the Seattle RO.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and denied entitlement to a compensable initial rating for postoperative residuals, nose fracture with sinusitis due to lack of evidence showing the disabilities were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, an eye disability, a low back disability, and a neck disability have all been denied as there is no competent clinical or credible lay evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for perennial allergic rhinitis with chronic postnasal drip is being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 10 percent since November 2003. The Board found that the evidence did not show three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, and therefore denied a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of rhinitis is related to his in-service exposure to steel wool/wood fibers and his history of pneumonia.