Sinusitis decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his sinusitis and whether he is unable to work due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and blood cancer as a result of asbestos exposure have not progressed further.

The Board has found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis did not first manifest during service or were caused by service. The claim for anxiety disorder was remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current nasal congestion/sinus drainage with headaches are related to his service-connected deviated nasoseptum and depressed right nasal bone.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sinusitis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his symptoms have improved since surgery and do not warrant more than noncompensable ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis with headaches is being remanded for additional development, including a new compensation and pension examination to determine the nature and extent of any current manifestations of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as it has not caused incapacitating episodes, more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting, required surgery, or resulted in nasal polyps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, and arthritis of multiple joints as these conditions are found to have preexisted active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of chronic maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis was denied. The current rating is 30 percent, based on the criteria set forth in Diagnostic Code 6512.

The Veteran's sinusitis was rated as noncompensably disabling prior to March 22, 2006. From March 22, 2006, the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis warrants an initial disability evaluation of 30 percent, as it is manifested by nearly constant incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied reopening of previous final decisions regarding service connection for a back disorder and sinusitis, as well as service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims were all found to lack new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed chronic sinus disorder during or after service. The Board found that the Veteran's ongoing symptoms are related to his already-service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including COPD and rhinitis/sinusitis, are service-connected as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records. The RO/AMC must attempt to obtain these records from his last Reserve unit and any associated ACDUTRA records.

The Veteran's claim for various service connection issues was remanded, and the RO is now denying his claims for increased ratings. The evidence does not support a compensable rating for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for her hearing. Her claims for service connection and increased ratings are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's sinusitis and facial scars are related to service-connected conditions. The issues of secondary service connection for sinusitis and service connection for facial scars will be addressed.