Sinusitis decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus. The examiner found that the current conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected pansinusitis with bilateral nasal polyps contributed substantially or materially to his death from respiratory failure, chronic obstructive lung disease, and community acquired pneumonia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), sinusitis, and bronchitis. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The claims for service connection for hypoglycemia and hypercholesterolemia (including hypertension) were denied as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence of unemployability solely due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 30, 1997.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including bronchitis, sinusitis, intervertebral disc syndrome, migraine headaches, arthritis of the elbows and knees. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pleurisy and right ear hearing loss was denied. The Board found no current disability of pleurisy, but determined that the Veteran had a current disability of right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hemorrhoids or sinusitis and thus, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and a determination of the appropriate rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis/sinusitis and whether he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hearing loss and middle ear cholesteatoma, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, a genitourinary disorder, and a cardiac disability as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory disability is related to service and whether any tinnitus or left ear hearing loss is related to service. The Veteran's claims of service connection are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of review of certain medical reports.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete verification of service stressors and further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic maxillary sinusitis has been manifested by headaches, intermittent stuffiness, and postnasal drip. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis with deviated nasal septum and secondary oral antral fistula does not result in frequent or excessive hospitalizations, prevent gainful employment, or otherwise cause extraordinary impairment. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of all pertinent evidence, including VA treatment records obtained in connection with his June 2006 'claim' and findings from a February 2007 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic sinusitis or varicose veins as a result of his active service. However, he was granted service connection for hemorrhoids.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, respiratory problems including sinusitis and/or rhinitis, right elbow disability, body aches and joint pain including low back, hip, neck and bilateral knee pain, sleep impairment, fatigue, night sweats, and memory loss. The claims are based on evidence that was reopened due to new and material information.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his sinusitis, in and of itself, did not result in frequent or excessive hospitalizations, prevent gainful employment, or otherwise cause extraordinary impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with asthma and assigned a 30 percent rating. Service connection for hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, and residuals of anti-malarial treatment are denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to July 12, 2007. The effective date of his TDIU is set at July 12, 2007.