Sinusitis decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple lipomas, bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and calcaneal spurs), and chronic sinusitis have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective January 6, 2006, based on more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of headaches, sinus congestion, pain, sore throat and post-nasal discharge.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the Veteran did not meet any of the criteria in the applicable statute and regulation at the time of his death.

The Board has remanded the claims due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations and requests that he provide information about his treatment history. The case will be returned after further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic athlete's foot, and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for this condition. The right wrist condition with pain was found to be related to military service, but the sinusitis claim was denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. Headaches were also found not to be secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature of his hearing loss, sinusitis, headaches, and any potential secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis, characterized by headaches, pain, and tenderness after repeated surgeries, is now rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on October 2, 2008 is denied as the criteria for payment under VA regulations are not met.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in a 30 percent disability rating from April 29, 2007 to October 28, 2008 and a 70 percent disability rating from October 29, 2008 to May 5, 2009. Service connection was denied for sinusitis, hypertension, chronic diarrhea, heart palpitations, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for endometriosis has been reopened and is now considered on its merits.,The Veteran's chronic allergic rhinitis is currently rated as non-compensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic sore throat, claimed as chronic pharyngitis, is not service-connected because it is a manifestation of his already service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claim for chronic sinusitis was also denied.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including migraine headaches, hearing loss, arthritis of various joints, asthma, lower back degenerative disc disease and muscle pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, allergies and rhinitis, and nerve paralysis, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability and whether an evaluation for frontal bone deformity with depression is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, sinusitis (secondary to asbestosis), and headaches (secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus). The decision was based on a lack of new and material evidence for asbestosis and the absence of a causal link between the claimed conditions and the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any residuals of a nasal fracture, and his current symptoms are associated with his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and rhinitis, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's sinusitis and hearing loss were not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed frostbite residuals and allergic rhinitis are not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.