Sinusitis decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evaluations and medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as new claims of sinusitis and epistaxis.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 30% due to more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and discharge. Tension headaches are not considered for separate rating as they have been considered in the criteria for sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen the low back disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have all been denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim of secondary service connection for fluid build-up in his right ear, nose and eye as being related to his service-connected traumatic radiculopathy of the right mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, eye disorder (compound hypermetropic astigmatism), nausea, groin pain, flat feet, and stress fractures of both feet. The primary reason was a lack of current medical evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis with retention cyst is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of incapacitating episodes or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, sinusitis, and a headache disorder have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions meet or approximate the criteria for higher schedular ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected sinusitis and postoperative nasal deviation, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher schedular ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and chronic sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The Appellant must provide names of any private treatment providers and identify any VA facilities where the Veteran received treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and review, as they are not ready for final decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus deformity of the great toes is currently rated at 30 percent, and his vasomotor rhinitis is rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted increased ratings for both the bilateral pes planus and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.