Sinusitis decisions — 2012

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a chronic sinus disorder during the Veteran's period of service, and the preponderance of the medical evidence is against a finding that it is otherwise related to his period of service. The Veteran's current diagnosed chronic sinusitis is not linked to his time in service.

The Veteran's hypertension, sinusitis, and PID with irregular bleeding are all found to be attributable to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left index finger condition, abdominal muscle tear, sinus disorder (including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), and bilateral tinea pedis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and adjudication, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his sinusitis and headaches.

The Board found that sinusitis was not manifested in service or for many years thereafter and is not shown to be related to service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board found that sinusitis, a headache disorder, and a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea were not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected left varicocele and his claim for service connection for sinusitis.

The Veteran has recurrent sinusitis that can be linked to her military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis and there is no competent medical evidence linking her current condition to service. The Board also notes that she has other diagnosed conditions such as fibromyalgia, asthma bronchial, depressive disorder, etc., which may be more relevant to her symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries in a July 1958 automobile accident were not incurred in the line of duty due to his own willful misconduct. As such, service connection for PTSD, nasal injuries, and sinusitis is denied.

The Board has determined that sinusitis had its onset during the Veteran's active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, a low back disability, and an acquired respiratory disability to include COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, and laryngitis.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, reactive airway disease with bronchitis (secondary to sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), and psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with depressed mood) have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including urinary incontinence, spinal stenosis, anxiety disorder, and others, have prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran's nasal bone fracture with deformity and sinusitis have been rated, but the appeal is denied as there are no additional issues of service connection or other claims pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral knee disability, hypertension, chronic sinusitis, and degenerative joint disease/degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination and opinion regarding service connection for allergic rhinitis as secondary to chronic sinusitis. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his left ear hearing loss disability, and providing an opinion on whether his hypertension is secondary to service-connected PTSD. The examiner must also determine if his sinusitis is related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum and sinusitis did not meet or approximate any applicable criteria for a compensable (10%) rating, as there were no incapacitating episodes of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.