Sinusitis decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 21, 2007 for service connection for chronic bilateral sinusitis with status post multiple sinus endoscopic surgeries is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's recurrent episodes of sinusitis, most recently in March 2010, are secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed, as well as his claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and sleep apnea, effective October 12, 2007, based on the Veteran's new claim submitted in October 2007.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for chronic sinusitis, talonavicular degenerative joint disease of the right foot/ankle, talonavicular degenerative joint disease of the left foot, and total abdominal hysterectomy. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and headaches have been granted initial compensable ratings of 30 percent each. The right and left knee disabilities are rated based on their specific limitations.

The Veteran currently suffers from sinusitis and there is a reasonable basis for attributing such disability to his active military service. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sinusitis likely resulted from disease or injury incurred during his military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for chronic sinusitis from December 5, 2009, forward.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran was diagnosed with sinusitis during active duty service and has reported experiencing symptoms since then. The Board finds the Veteran's contentions credible, as his reports of continuous symptoms are consistent with medical records showing ongoing treatment for sinus issues. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's prostate disorder, diagnosed as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), is not related to his service or exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claims for sinusitis and soft-tissue growths due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and a respiratory disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not begin in or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations and additional evidence collection. The Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, hemorrhoids, and headaches are on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carpel tunnel syndrome of the left hand and right hand, as well as her sinusitis, are at least as likely as not incurred during her active military service.,Service connection is granted for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, and sinusitis.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis, and a deviated nasal septum. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to the claimed conditions and insufficient medical evidence to support the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease, initial compensable evaluation for COPD, and initial compensable evaluation for chronic maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis. The appeals were decided on the basis that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or sufficient medical support to establish these conditions as being related to military service.

The Veteran's hypogammaglobulinemia, a weakened immune system, has been associated with frequent upper respiratory infections and chronic sinusitis. The Board finds that the evidence supports a rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis is not etiologically related to his period of active service and does not result from or be aggravated by a service-connected disability, including deviated nasoseptum and depressed right nasal bone. As such, service connection for sinusitis was denied.

The Veteran's acne, bipolar disorder, PTSD, sinusitis/upper respiratory infections, cesarean section residuals, and menstrual cramps have been granted service connection. The rating for acne has been restored to 10 percent effective September 1, 2000.