Sinusitis decisions — 2010

The Veteran's right ankle disorder was not noted in service, and no current disability is related to service.,Sinusitis has been diagnosed since service. The Veteran's current sinus symptoms are not related to his service.,No heart disorder was noted in service or currently exists.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered apart from any unrelated conditions, do not render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including irritable bowel syndrome, depressive disorder, arthralgias in multiple joints, headaches, and fatigue, idiopathic fasciculation (muscle twitching), tinnitus, chondromalacia patella of the bilateral knees, left shoulder tendonitis, post-operative scar tissue, and chronic sinusitis with nosebleeds, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to incomplete examinations and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board finds that a 10 percent rating is warranted.,Service connection for bronchitis cannot be established based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's asthma with allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis, to include general diseases of allergic etiology. However, it was determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a pollen allergy (claimed as congestion from pollen) or high cholesterol.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and all manifestations of her service-connected allergic rhinitis, including whether it causes polyps or nasal obstruction on both sides. The issue of TDIU is also referred back to the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left and right elbow tendonitis, hypothyroidism, allergic rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and depression. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for pansinusitis with occasional headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and fibrotic cyst disease of the left breast were denied. The Board found that her allergy symptoms are likely due to service, but there is no current diagnosis of fibrotic cyst disease of the left breast.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The sinusitis issue was remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relation to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to active military service for any of the claimed conditions. Service connection was denied for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, sinusitis, and laryngitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinus condition was not present in service, did not manifest within one year of discharge, and there is no nexus between her current condition and service. The appeal for service connection for a sinus condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sinusitis is related to his period of service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis, with retention cyst, is being remanded due to the need for a CT scan of the sinuses and clarification on the number of incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sinusitis has been dismissed as the issue was addressed in an April 1997 SOC and the Veteran did not perfect an appeal in a timely manner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis began during his military service and has continued to present day, meeting the criteria for service connection.