Sinusitis decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was previously denied in a February 1999 rating decision. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim.,The Veteran contends that his current sinusitis is related to his service-connected sleep apnea, which he claims began after surgery in 1993. He also asserts that his left knee disability and right and left ankle disabilities are due to physical stress from his duties on the flight deck.

The Veteran's sinusitis and sleep apnea are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and deviated nasal septum with sinusitis due to incomplete sentences in examination reports, requiring further development.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for headaches and sinusitis have been granted, but the Board has determined that further development is needed due to recent symptom worsening and lack of recent treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral shin splints and leg pain, a bilateral toe disability, sinusitis, and low back disability, were not incurred in or aggravated by her active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic sinusitis disability and therefore, service connection for sinusitis is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as failure to establish a causal relationship between his claimed conditions and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or materially hasten his death, and thus denied both claims for service connection for the cause of death and DIC based on 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the claim due to the need for additional private and VA treatment records, as well as a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of submucous resection was denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The claims of service connection for endocarditis, atrial fibrillation, neuromuscular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and macular degeneration were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis does not warrant an increased disability rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 30 percent, considering the Veteran's daily headaches and sinus pain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for sinusitis, including a stuffy nose, claimed as a result of an undiagnosed illness. The March 1993 rating decision denying service connection is final.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed sinusitis. The claims for service connection for tinnitus and PTSD are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, left ear hearing loss, and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected sinusitis with polypoid mass and headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations. The claims are related to service connection, disability evaluations, and functional effects of his hearing loss, sinusitis, and nasal defect.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus, warranting service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus of the right ear has also been granted.